Ghana suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in an international friendly at the the Stade Oceane in Le Havre in France on Friday evening.[ads2]
The epic encounter was to serve as preparations match for the two countries ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar scheduled for November this year.
The Brazilians dominated the first half of the game with Ghana failing to break into their defence and testing goalkeeper Alison Becker even though Kudus Mohammed showed some glimpses.
Before the start of the game, Ghana had a bad news as Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey picked up an injury during the warm up session and was replaced by Real Mallorca enforcer Baba Iddrisu.[ads3]
The fist half of the game produced as much as three goals with Tottenham forward Richarlison scoring twice while Paris Saint Germain defender Marquinhos scored the other goal.
Richarlison nearly broke the deadlock for the South American side in the 7th minute but his strike went over that bar.
A minute after Richarlison missing that clear opportunity, defender Marquinhos manged to head home Raphinha’s corner kick to open the scoreline.
FC Barcelona winger Raphinha came close to getting the second goal in the 14th minute but missed the pole by inch after Vinicius Jnr had dribble two Ghanaian defenders in the eighteen yard box.[ads4]
The chances kept coming with Neymar Jnr also missing another opportunity in the 19th minute.
In the 28th minute, Tottenham forward Richarlison doubled the scoreline for the Brazilians with a beautiful strike before adding another goal twelve minutes after with a sumptuous header.
The Brazilian could have made it 4:0 but Ghana goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott was right on time to save the situation.
Ghana came in very strong in the second half as coach Otto Addo made some changes with Inaki Williams coming for Kamaldeen Sulemana while Southampton defender Salisu Mohammed replaced Felix Afena-Gyan of Cremonese in the Italian Serie A.
Coach Otto Addo changed his formation, shifting to three backs while Dennis Odoi and Abdul Baba Rahman played as wing backs to accommodate Salisu Mohammed.
The Black Stars begun bossing and keeping the Brazilians at bay in the early minutes of the second half with Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew and his brother Andre Ayew knocking at the defence of the South American side for a consolation.
Ghana skipper Andre Ayew nearly netted the consolation as his header from Kudus Mohammed corner kick in the 55th minute was few centimeters away from the goal posts.
The Brazilians quickly regrouped amd begun searching for the fourth goal but goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott prevented them from scoring another goal, saving Neymar’s freekick in the 65th minute.
Ghana managed to broke into the Brazilian defence kind courtesy a pass from Jordan Ayew but Inaki Williams low strike was easily saved by goalkeeper Alison Becker.
Coach Otto Addo continued to throw more men into the game as Antoine Semenyo, Tariq Lamptey, Elisha Owusu and Daniel Kofi-Kyere came in for Andre Ayew, Dennis Odo, Baba Iddrisu and Kudus Mohammed respectively.
Despite the changes, the outcome of the game didn’t changed as Brazil continue their unbeaten run.
Ghana will continue the World Cup preparations against Nicaragua at the Estadio Francisco Artes Carrasco in Spain on September 27, 2022.[ads5]