Two goals from Asamoah Gyan helped
Ghana edge South Korea 3-1 in a friendly match Sunday and hand new
coach Claude Le Roy two wins in two games.
South Korea, playing with a young and inexperienced team, kept
the Black Stars at bay in the first half with a combination of good
defending and good luck at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Ghana piled on the pressure early, almost taking the lead within
ten minutes when captain Stephen Appiah forced a quick save from
goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang at close range.
Gyan of Italian side Udinese was only beaten by the right post in
the 17th, but his 48th-minute header from Laryea Kingsons cross was
right on target.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien then turned up the heat ten
minutes later by heading home a corner in similar fashion to make it
2-0.
With all three of South Koreas English Premiership players
sidelined and World Cup striker Lee Chun-soo still nursing an ankle
injury, it was left to forward Kim Dong-hyun to hammer home a
rebound in the 62nd to reduce the margin.
But Gyan was relentless and made it decisive in the 83rd after
weaving through the penalty area.
South Korea had several chances to ties it, with FC Seoul forward
Jung Jo-gook sending a long drive inches wide of the left post late
in the game.
Ghana beat Japan 1-0 on French coach Le Roys debut Wednesday. As
host of the 2008 African Cup of Nations, the West African side
qualifies automatically for the regional tournament and so is short
of games.
