The Ethiopian U-20 national team have beaten Ghana U-20 national team 2-1 in the African U-20 Nations Cup qualifiers first leg tie played out at Addis Ababa Stadium. Ame Mohammed masterminded the win over Ghana with a brace in space of five minutes.
The hosts started the game brightly as early pressure and shaky defense of the Black Satellites handed them a two goals cushion. In the 4th minute Ghana goalie Kwame Baah denied Surafel Awel but the energetic Ame fired home the rebound to open the scoring. Ame yet again doubled the lead five minutes from time after a defensive howler from Issaku Konda.
Black Satlellites barley troubled Ethiopia’s custodian Teklemariam Shanko in the first half. Nevertheless, the away side pulled one back two minutes from time through Jonah Osabutey whose tap in effort found the back of the net.
Ethiopia takes a slander lead to the second leg, which will be played after fortnight in the newly constructed Cape Coast Stadium.
Match Reactions:
Girma Habteyohannis, Ethiopia Coach
“I myself was very impressed with the way my players performed because Ghana have a good team with a great form. My players done what we told them to do. The pressure in the second half made us to deploy a defensive tactic. In the return leg we will try to amend some changes in order for us to qualify. Every tourney has its own problems but one needs to have a solution for those problems. Hence, for our return leg we will try prepare ourselves in the best possible way.”
Didi Dramani. Ghana coach
“We all know the challenges when you play in East Africa. The challenge of altitude was something that we knew even before we set up. We tried to conserve energy in order to give it to the whole 90 minutes. We were struck by the two early goals that we gifted. We had to push beyond doubts in order to make the second leg a brighter opportunity for us. That is what we have done in the second half.”
