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Ethiopia stunned Ghana in a 2022 World Cup qualifying game on Thursday afternoon at the Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
The Black Stars were in need of the three maximum points badly to mount pressure on group leaders South Africa but the game ended the other way around.
It was skipper Andre Ayew who pushed Ghana to the lead with a sumptuous free-kick goal in the first half but the Antelopes returned from the break to snatch the equalizer through Skipper Getaneh Kebede.[ads2]
It was an humdrum performance on the part of the Black Stars despite boasting of the stars led by captain Andre Ayew Morgan.
Despite not creating too many a chance, Ghana could have buried the Ethiopians in the first with the least chances created but failed to do so.
An expertly left-footed freekick from Andre Ayew to the left top corner of the Ethiopian goal post gave Ghana the lead in the 22nd minute the first half of the game.[ads3]
Just after scoring the opener, the Black Stars came close again through Andre Ayew and Richmond Boakye Yiadom who were both denied by the brilliance of the Ethiopian keeper.
The Walia Antelopes gradually settled into the match with their trade passing and movement but found spaces in the Black Stars defense hard to come by.
Kamaldeen Sulemana nearly gave Ghana the second goal but the Rennes youngster placed his left-footed curler over the bar.
Ghana goalkeeper Jojo Wollacot made a brilliant save by denying Ethiopia captain Getaneh Kedebe the equaliser from a free header.
Richmond Boakye Yiadom had a glorious opportunity to put Ghana ahead of the Ethiopians in the final five minutes of the first half but the striker blasted his volley high over the cross bar.
The first half ended 1:0 in favour of the Black Stars.
Down by a goal, the Ethiopians returned from the break with much energy wanting to get the equaliser in the early minutes of the second half.
The Ethiopians dominated possession but a decent Black Stars defence were able to stay on their guard to prevent the equaliser.
Due to the uninspiring performance of the Black Stars, coach Milovan Rajevac pulled off striker Boakye Yiadom and replaces him with defensive midfielder Mubarak Wakaso.
The change rather irritated the Ethiopians and begun pressing harder until the 72nd minute when skipper Getaneh Kebede capitalised on a mistake by defender Joseph Aidoo to snatch the parity.[ads4]
The equaliser enacted a late resurgence from the Black Stars who mounted pressure on the Ethiopians in search of the equalizer but their effort was fruitless as Ethiopia held on to snatch a point.
The draw leaves the Black Stars behind group leaders South Africa despite playing a game more.
South Africa will have a chance to open a three-points gap when they host Zimbabwe later today.
Ghana will host South Africa in the final round of the group G Qualifiers at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday November 14, 2021.[ads5]
