Ghana vs Nigeria - African Cup 2008 *Quarter Final*

let's go the first quarter final between ghana and nigeria. come on Essien vs Mikel

http://www.footiemag.de/matches_23931.html

 

0-1 to Nigeria in 35th minute after Yakubu converts a PK low left.

Ghana dominated the first 25-30 minutes but Nigeria has started creating chances and deserved the penalty call. For some reason the ref delayed several seconds in making the call...

I'm watching on Channel 194, NTA feed on Comcast digital cable in Arlington, VA.

 

Essien with a 1st half stoppage time equalizer!

Free kick from the left flank, Essien jumped up and headed it on off the post.

 

i have a question, ive always liked watching Stephen Appiah play and i'm wondering where he is for this Ghana team? on the soccernet match report hes not listed in the squad

 

He's injured, thats why he isn't in the squad.

 

Appiah was shown at the stadium. Enjoying the view from the stands in his Sunday best.

Apparently he has a knee injury:

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=567265

 

Thanks for those video clips. Obviously Essien's headed equalizer was from run of play (Owusu?) not from a freekick as I posted.

Big turn of events at 60' as Capt Mensah is redcarded for grabbing Odemwingie to deny an obvious scoring opportunity at the edge of the penalty area. The ensuing free kick is touched to Taiwo who unleashes a cannon shot that forces a an excellent leaping reflex save from Kingson. Still tied but Ghana are down to 10 men....

 

Essien now drops back to central defense to cover for Mensah's expulsion!

69' - game slows down as players start to cramp up

 

2-1 Ghana!

Agogo at far post is open and only has to redirect Muntari's shot/cross into open net.

Dramani held ball on left crossed into Muntari who shot or crossed to Agogo.

85'

 

Nigeria with a good chance in the 89'.

Shittu was open and headed a ong freekick back across goal. Probably should have tried to score directly.

Stoppage time now starting. 3 more minutes.

 

Game over! Ghana wins 2-1 and advances to semifinals. Nigeria had a chance to equalize in 3rd minute of stoppage time with a goalmouth scramble following a 30-yard freekick that was headed down in front of goal.

Good job by Ghana playing shorthanded to score the gamewinner. They looked the more energetic and dangerous team in the final half hour. After Kingson's great save from Taiwo in 61' it looked like Nigeria had momentum and would be laying siege to Ghana's goal. But that never really materialized.

 

Wow, that was an intense game. Ghana came out so fired up they were sending men forward in waves, which left a few gaps at the back that Yakubu was able to exploit. Yakubu was too big and strong for Addo, who was having real problems with him, but Ghana still had all the possession and most of the chances in the first half. Agogo's touch was absolutely horrible, though, otherwise he would have had a goal for sure on a gorgeous flick from Quincy.

Ghana came out in the second half much less aggressive, but still got exposed by Odemwingie's run. Still, as soon as Mensah was sent off they upped their play a lot. Ghana got kind of lucky Annan wasn't sent off for poking Mikel in the eye, but even with a man advantage Nigeria didn't take the game to Ghana at all. And the sub Dramani made the difference, taking on Nwaneri multiple times and providing the ball to Muntari that set up the goal. He was brilliant the whole time after coming on. Really, though, Nigeria was pretty poor. The defense was solid mostly but Taiwo was caught napping on the winning goal, but the midfield was overwhelmed and there wasn't enough support for Yakubu.

 

Nigeria goes down with Martins, Kanu, and Utaka not getting a single minute in their knockout game. Stunning.

Uche was as dreadful today as he's been for Getafe all season.

The appointment of Vogts was laughable to begin with, and Nigeria was dreadful throughout this tournament. Hope they enjoy paying for his next three years on a beach.

 

Its amazing to me how being down by a player sometimes brings the best of the team with less players. Ghana actually played better after the sending off. Nigeria again displayed their inability to come back from being down in the scoring chart. Wow wow.. this was an intense game though. Essien what a beast.

 

Kanu wasn't fully fit yet, and if you watched Utaka and Martins play this tournament it was no surprise they were on the bench. They've both been awful. I don't know how much it would have helped to have them on the field.

 

Three things doomed the Super Eagles today.

• 1. Heart
• 2. Controversial refereeing
• 3. Controversial coaching

No way should 10 man Ghana out hustle 11 man Nigeria. No freakin' way. Now how did Ghana get that free kick at the end of the first half??? Mikel took a boot to the stomach. I didn't see how Ghana got that call. Then lastly, Vogts didn't make one attacking move when up a man. Why??? That is total BS and I feel sorry for Super Eagles fans as they were let down today. It shouldn't have ended the way it did

 

Did you guys watch a different match?

Ok. Nigeria lost, but they played a great game from about the 25th minute until about the 70th. Unexplicably they lost domination of the game after the sending off of Mensah... How? Easy. Essien filled in the space in defense falling back and the coach exchanged the flanks with some fresh legs (Kingston and Dramani). What did Vogts do? Took off the heart of the midfield Mikel in the 85th minute and replaced him with a Yakubu twin. What for? Vogts has absolutely no idea...

It actually looked as if Nigeria was playing so well INSPITE of Vogts.

And Uche was great... maybe he didn't shoot on goal too much, but he was in more of an attacking midfield role and he opened up some superb opportunities for the Nigerian attack formation.

Nigeria really played a good game and really took it to the Ghanians, who should be happy they actually managed to pull it off...

btw. they really should be down to 9 men, cuz that was a definite eye poke on Mikel.

Really guys... were you guys watching the same thing I was???

 

After Mikel tried to hit him with a breaking leg scissors

Ghana dominated play for the most part, but as usual failed to convert that into actual scoring opportunities. Nigeria got that part right, but lacked urgency in the last 20 to 30 minutes.

Well, at least Vogts will go now and Nigeria can start rebuilding. If the NFA is smart, they'll sign Siasia, Keshi or Eguavoen. Unfortunately we'll likely see the next clueless and overpaid European mercenary.

 

im not surpsied, this is the best futbol they've played ALL torunament, other then this game they been straight sh*t and thats not including Benin who wasnt progresing anywhere.

hats off to Nigeria they played their best but at the end Ghana wins and now the question looms over Berti Vogts, will he be fired or not. because this was not a good showing.