Asamoah Gyan’s injury-time equaliser deprived England of victory in a highly entertaining friendly against Ghana at Wembley.
Andy Carroll’s first international goal just before the interval looked to have settled the game in favour of Fabio Capello’s revamped England side before Gyan gave Ghana a draw they fully deserved.
Ghana’s vast and colourful support inside Wembley celebrated wildly as Gyan bamboozled England substitute Joleon Lescott, not for the first time, inside the area before clipping a composed finish beyond Joe Hart.
Liverpool’s £35m striker Carroll still looked short of match fitness after a lengthy recent injury absence – but gave a glimpse of his rich potential when he rounded off a fine move with a powerful finish just before half-time.
Ghana, however, were a threat throughout and Gyan’s goal was fitting reward for his tireless display and the Black Stars’ ambitious attacking approach.
Dominic Adiyiah forced Hart into two fine saves in the first half, while Ashley Young should have scored for England when he drove a close-range effort against the bar from Stewart Downing’s cross.
Despite fears that Capello’s decision to make seven changes from the team that beat Wales in Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier would take the edge of this friendly, Wembley played host to a vibrant occasion that was given a game to match the atmosphere.
Capello will be disappointed that victory was cast aside so late, but England’s coach can still take away plenty from the game, particularly Carroll opening his England goal account and accomplished performances from Young and Downing as he worked with a 4-3-3 formation once more.
And it was also a memorable night for Wolves winger Matt Jarvis and Danny Welbeck, on loan at Sunderland from Manchester United, as they made their England debuts in the second half.
Capello made the expected changes prior to kick-off, but the alterations did not affect the rhythm of a thrilling first half as both sides showed commendable attacking intent.
Ghana, urged forward by a huge following banked at one end of Wembley, were a constant threat and Adiyiah signalled their positive approach early on when he raced clear only to be thwarted by the advancing Hart.
England’s response was swift, with Downing shooting well over from an angle and Young forcing an athletic save from Ghana keeper Richard Kingson with a rising effort from 20 yards.
Sunderland’s Gyan was the darling of the Ghana fans, but his ambition got the better of him when he tested Hart from in excess of 40 yards – a shot that carried plenty of power but was straight at the England keeper.
Young’s enterprising start should have been rewarded with a goal after 24 minutes. He arrived perfectly on the end of a cross from Villa team-mate Downing but turned his shot against the bar with Kingson beaten.
Hart was England’s saviour again when Adiyiah sent in a shot from Sulley Muntari’s free-kick, sticking out a hand to make a fine reflex save to ensure Capello’s side remained on terms.
Ghana were unhappy when England full-back Leighton Baines launched himself into a 50-50 challenge with Isaac Vorsah that left the Ghana player rolling in agony, but Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir kept his yellow card in his pocket.
As an end-to-end half somehow looked to be ending goalless, Carroll rounded off a slick passage of play to give England the lead. Young picked out Downing with precise pass and Carroll slammed a left-foot finish low past Kingson.
Capello made one change at half-time, sending on Lescott for Glen Johnson – and it was Ghana who made the early running after the break.
Ghana’s following almost got the goal they craved as the Black Stars threatened twice within second, England captain Gareth Barry deflecting John Pantsil’s shot over the top and Jonathan Mensah heading the resulting corner just wide. Carroll had given England an hour before he was replaced by Jermain Defoe and Capello later introduced two more debutants when Jarvis came on for Jack Wilshere and Welbeck replaced Young.
Welbeck was not afforded a warm reception by Ghana’s followers after pledging his loyalty to England despite qualifying for the Africans.
They forgot their anger at Welbeck when the goal they had been waiting for arrived as the fourth official signalled the start of three minutes of added time. Gyan’s sleight of foot was all too much for Lescott and the striker rounded off a fine night’s work with a goal that was greeted ecstatically by Ghana’s fans.
England v Ghana line-ups
England: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Milner, Barry, Wilshere, Downing, Carroll, Young.
Subs: Green, Lescott, Parker, Jarvis, Welbeck, Defoe, Crouch, Bent, Carson.
Ghana: Kingson, Pantsil, Vorsah, John Mensah, Lee Addy, Adiyah, Annan, Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Muntari, Gyan.
Subs: Adjei, Opare, Inkoom, Derek Boateng, Tagoe, Ayew, David Addy, Jonathan Mensah, Kumordzi, Clottey, Sowah. Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
Source: BBC
whoooow Wembley was the bom GH supporters where great it was packed with Ghanians from Amsterdam Belguim Germany we all enjoyed it too bad that useless referee was a bit against even though England made it 1-0 the party still continued all the way all every body was confidence that we would have bounce back and yeah RESPECT to Gyan your the man all players did work hard and i wish some of you where here to see how great GH supporters are
blackstars really put us on the map and believe that this team can face any team in the world
i salute you boys all the way great job
i agree with you miyagi
@maame I really wanted to throw something on his head all I was doing is cursing him
oo yea i can imagine how it was in london last night Miyagi ..i knw how u ghanians there celebrate …lol its crazy ..my cosuin had this huge ghanian flag all over her …
well done to the team ..though Gyan is too known but yet no doubt he is talented ….lol
TWENTY ONE THOUSAND of you Gh lovers and brethren went to Webley. Well done man for supporting the Blackstars. I watched it live from the other side of the pond. Was a great game.
i was there i got some of gyan shirtttttttttttttttt
@barbiedoll. Lol not everything but some you know hahahah you mean you got hold of it so how did you like it in wembley and what did you think about thy prick of referee
Couldn’t get a chance to watch the game live on TV but all in all you gotta tip your hat to our Black Stars. Beating Congo on Sunday for cup of nation qualifying then played England a few hours ago today for draw was outstanding. I think Fifa or GFA should’ve given the Black Stars a week in advance to rest after beating Congo.
Seriously, my home boy Adiyiaaaaaah, Adiyiah is the next big player with my homie Ayew from the motherland y’all. Not only Adiyiah can strike, he can dribble the ball through defence. Trust me, if Adiyiah would’ve been given the privilege to play at 2010 EARLIER the Black Star would’ve advance to the semi.
Anyways, what’s up with Plavi (Ghana coach) Just because Fabio Capello bench England best players like Lampard, Rooney, Terry, Michael Dawson and Alshley Cole doesn’t mean Plavi should’ve bench some of our best players too like Ayew, Samuel Inkoom , Derek Boateng etc…..
@ Miyagi, what’s popping Bruh, did you get a chance to drive to Wembley for the game? and if you did, how did over 20,000 plus Ghanaian supporters goes. I did catch the highlight on ESPN and that’s what they said over 20,000 Ghanaian were there.
Black Starrrrrrrrs, Black Stars…lol…
@weapon bruh this are good this is something I just didnt want to miss when we talk about country with best supporters than I will say gh because supporters where good great admos fear everybody was enjoying it all the way even the engllish people where surprise and going with the flow
No doubt. They did great
One sad thing is this Welbeck guy. They booed him so much it was funny. Gerald Asamoah of Germany, Freddy Adu of USA and Mario (Ballotelli) Owusu Bawuah- all 3 of them have one thing in common their careers are going down the hill when they chose a foreign country over Ghana. Welbeck will be number 4 on the list if he chooses England.
@Ghallday Welbeck wasn’t booed because he played fir England he was booed because the want him to make a choice between both parties because this was a friendly match he still got re right to choose so
And about Mario Balotelli you cant really blame him because At the age of three he was fostered by Francesco and Silvia Balotelli after his parents asked social services for help with Mario because of their cramped living conditions he never got to learn about his roots all he knows is that he was adopted and refuse to see his real parents so imagine what going through the boy’s mind and even though he knows where is from Ghana Officials would never select him with his behaviour he wouldn’t fit inside the squad to aggressive
Miyagi, true that. Welbeck has obviously made up his mind that England would be his choice but the sad thing is he would eventually become a bench warmer for many England games to come. Wha has drawn Ghanaians to foreign born Gh players is true passion from players like Prince Boateng.
Marcel Desailly chose France over us and for him it seems that it went really well for him
Love the black stars..dey played so well..gv de credit to God first,den to Gyan..go go go hiiiiiiigh black stars..
Watch the highlights on this link.
Remember to pay me later (laugh it off)
http://bcove.me/7nvhsh2e
Lol bad girl pay you if in cedi or what lol
Correction -if/ + off
Miyagi, it will be in dollar if you reside in the State, pounds if in the UK, euro if in any of those countries, RMB if in China, cedis if Ghana. Laugh it off.
@val hahahah loool so where are you based than so we can pay in your currency lmao
I’m so happy for the Black Stars. Love y’all. Too bad I’m not there to celebrate with er’one
@kr next time my dear you really missed it
ok Miyagi, I’ll hold you to that even though you ppl across the pond dont think too much of us. lol
You read need to proofread your work for grammatical errors before you post. come. nice article but it’s poorly written.
Really? I have not read it yet but then it was not written by us. We have stated where it came from. BBC…
Will read thou but we can’t edit someone’s work without permission…
Couldn’t find any major displacement there so I am not sure what you are talking about…
manishy, and who appointed you to correct grammatical errors here?
@BB i agree with you on that
@mother everybody was rocking the big flag around the neck hahhahah it was madness they even sold pounded fufu there and sold fufu organisation did a good job
what ,u dont mean it ? hahahah ..pounded fufu paaa .as for london (England)i knw its possible cos its the second africa on earth …lol . my uncle told me he and his friends used to pound fuf in the backyard of his house …lol
i really doubt ur uncle cos he will be on the front page of metro the next day, he’s lying to ya lol
Goodies its true huh ..i bet as londoner u knw how Tottenham is ..thats where he used to live
u knw the foreigners has invaded the place ..so everything of ur culture like wise is allowed there ..
by the how come they could sell pounded fufu at the studium as Miyagi said ?.lol
so obviously pestle and motar is allowed to brought to England isnt? lol
All over. I’m mobile you know…….laugh it off
All over. I’m mobile you know…….laugh it off
All over. I’m mobile you know…….laugh it off
spare me this laugh it off thing, its becoming boring now , no offense!
Are you pregnant?
@Val lmao hahahah you must be one hell of a business person than
Yes. What would you like to have? Krakye awiesu
or an Iphone……. Laugh it off
@val lol I already got two iPhones so first one please lmao
@ val,are u seriously talking about awiesu? OMG! gone are the days. i miss all those. (awiesu, kwirikwiri, nkate cake, kube cake, atwomo…………….) LOL
@mother wo yye bad paaaaa hahahahahah why are you making fun of us londoners hahahahah lol but your uncle is a champion hahahaha pounding fufu in
The garden lmao
B.B, Precisely soooooo. Awiesu all the way. Gone are the days when I would put kube cake in my pocket while math class was going on. When the math was difficult to understand, all I had to do was to bite into my nkate cake,kube cake, krakye awieso and the likes. Very good snacks which have been taken for granted. I went to a chocolate factory shop at the mall for a treat. About six ball of dark chocolate with coconut grated on them cost me quite a bit and I said to myself , this is kube cake! Kube cake with chocolate ooooooooooonnnnnnn. Truly there is nothing new under the sun.
Miyagi, Krakye awieso is on it waaaaaaaaaay.
@val I’m still waiting for it hahaha