Ajax FC midfielder Kudus Mohammed netted twice to secure Ghana a 3:2 victory over South Korea in second game of the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.[ads2]
Ghana coach Otto Addo started the crucial game by making three changes to the squad that played against Portugal last week with Gideon Mensah, Tariq Lamptey and Jordan Ayew replacing Alidu Seidu, Abdul Baba Rahman and Alexander Djiku.
The West African giants were determined to snatch the three points from South Korea after losing to Portugal in the first game at the Stadium 974.
Having also drew with Uruguay in the opening game, the Koreans started the game on the high with skipper Heung Min Son and co coming close to the opener but the Ghanaian defenders were resolute and defended gallantly.
Out of nowhere, Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu opened the floodgate for Ghana in the 24th minute with a sumptuous header from a perfect free-kick from Jordan Ayew who was highly criticised in the first game for giving away two balls that resulted to goals for Portugal.[ads3]
Ghana begun to push harder for the double with Inaki Williams coming close in the 31st minute of the crucial fixture.
Ten minutes after the opener, Kudus Mohammed headed home the second for Ghana with Jordan Ayew providing the assist with a well-calculated cross from the left side of the attack.
Goalkeeper, Lawrence Ati Zigi was on a superb form as he beautifully saved a goal-bound header in the 37th minute of the game.
Ghana returned from the tunnel very eager to silent the Koreans by searching for the third goal with Tariq Lamptey coming close in the 49th minute but his strike in the box went wide.
Lawrence Ati Zigi made another crucial save by punching away Gue-Sung Cho goal-bound header in the 52nd minute.
After tormenting the Ghanaian defenders, Gue-Sung Cho netted the consolation for the Koreans in the 57th minute.[ads4]
Three minutes after netting the consolation, the 24-year old who plays for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in South Korea headed home the equaliser.
With all hopes being lost, Kudus Mohammed restored Ghana to the lead in the 68th minute.
The goal didn’t deter coach Paulo Bento and his charges from pushing for the equaliser which led to a crucial clearance in the Ghanaian posts from Salisu Mohammed in the 75th minute.
Few minutes after the third goal, Ghana coach Otto Addo decided to throw more men into the game by bringing in Kamaldeen Sulemana, Daniel Kofi-Kyere and Dennis Odoi for Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew and Tariq Lamptey while Alexander Djiku came in the 81st minute for Kudus Mohammed.
The Koreans kept on pushing for the equaliser but Ghana defended gallantly till the blast of the final whistle by renowned English referee Anthony Taylor.
The victory means Ghana now has three points after two matches and will need either a win or draw against Uruguay on December 2 to secure a place in the knockout stage of the competition.[ads5]
