Ghana 2 Mali 0 (Full Time)

The Black Stars of Ghana have beaten Les Aigles (The Eagles) of Mali in the top-of-the-table Group D clash by two goals courtesy "BabyJet" Asamoah Gyan's superb free-kick in the 64th minute and Dede Ayew who fired a low grounder in the 75th minute to beat Diakite in the Malian post after some individual brilliance.

The Al-Ain striker curled a superb free-kick in the 64th minute which flew into the top corner of the Malian net!

More was to come from the Black Stars when in the 75th minute, Marseille striker Dede Ayew doubled Ghana's advantage! Gyan backheeled the ball to Ayew, who after turning his marker inside out in the Malian 18 yard box, hit a low grounder for Ghana's second!



TEAMS:

Ghana: 16-Adam Kwarasey; 6-John Paintsil, 21-John Boye,
19-Jonathan Mensah, 14-Masawudu Alhassan; 6-Anthony Annan,
8-Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, 10-Dede Ayew, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah;
11-Sulley Muntari, 3-Asamoah Gyan.

Subs: Takyi, Tagoe, Inkoom, Boateng, Addy, Agyei, Ayew, Opare, Sowah, Abu ///

Mali: 16-Soumbeyla Diakite; 14-Drissa Diakite, 5-Cedric
Kante, 4-Ousmane Berthe, 3-Adama Tamboura; 15-Bakaye Traore,
20-Samba Diakite, 7-Abdou Traore, 12-Seydou Keita; 9-Cheick
Tidiane Diabate, 10-Modibo Maiga.

Subs: Dembele, Sissoko, Yatabare, O Coulibaly, Sow, Maiga, Sogoba, I Coulibaly, Ndiaye, Keita, Kone


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1 MIN: And we're off! Ghana get the game underway...

2 MIN: Mali's best African Cup of Nations result saw The Eagles finish second in 1972.

3 MIN: Early pressure by the Black Stars as they win an early corner but Berthe rises well to powerfully head clear.

4 MIN: There's a fabulous atmosphere at the Stade de Franceville. Don't forget, this is a West African derby so there's plenty of pride at stake!

5 MIN: Ghana and Mali were drawn in the same qualifying group ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with the Black Stars drawing at home and winning the away game en-route to reaching the finals.

6 MIN: Ghana are dominating the early possession and win their second corner of the match.

7 MIN: "BabyJet" Asamoah Gyan's the target but the corner's overhit and it drifts behind for a goal-kick.

9 MIN: The Malians break, with Maiga exchanging passes with Traore but the move breaks down and Muntari forces a foul to relieve the pressure for Ghana.

10 MIN: Mali again. This time its Maiga who beats his man and gets to the byline but tries to pull off one trick too many and is held up by Anthony Annan who forced the ball out for a goal-kick.

13 MIN: Star player Keita's taken a knock but the Barcelona man is soon back to his feet.

14 MIN: Ghana's dangerman, Gyan, turns his man on the edge of the box but the ball runs away from the former Sunderland striker and Diakite is quick off his line to gather.

15 MIN: Gyan clips a cross into the box but fails to find his man. Then....

16 MIN: Asamoah tries an ambitious flick to play in Gyan but it's cut out and Mali clear.

17 MIN: It appears neither side can fully assert their dominance at the moment but Ghana are just about shading possession.

20 MIN: The game's fallen a little flat, with both sides cancelling each other out.

21 MIN: Andre Ayew cuts inside from the right but is dispossessed with a well-timed challenge from Tamboura.

23 MIN: Mali win a free-kick on the right flank; Traore sends in a looping cross which Kwarasey unconvincingly punches behind for a corner.

24 MIN: Kwarasey comes again and completely misses the ball this time but Diabate is unable to direct his header on target and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick. The Ghanaian goalie seems to be having a torrid time or???

25 MIN: Ghana turn on the heat. Malian keeper Diakite spills Asamoah's long-range effort and Muntari does well to get to the ball first to follow up but fires wide under pressure.

27 MIN: Mali wins a free-kick. Traore delivers a deep cross which fails to find a yellow shirt. That's a waste. Goal-kick.

28 MIN: Ghana embark on a one-touch move but Kante steps in to clear for Mali.

29 MIN: Ayew's brought down on the halfway line to give Ghana a free-kick. That gives Mali the chance to get everyone behind the ball, however.

32 MIN: The game continues to be played out in midfield, with neither keeper really been tested yet, except for Kwadwo Asamoah's long-range effort in the 25th minute.

33 MIN: Pantsil looks to play in Gyan but Kante steps in front of the Ghana striker to clear.

34 MIN: Asamoah Gyan has struggled to assert himself on the game so far. But don't write him off just yet.

35 MIN: Hold your breath...Kwadwo Asamoah twists and turns on the edge of the box and unleashes a powerful shot but it ends up well wide. Great footwork from the Udinese midfielder.

37 MIN: Mensah jumps in with a late challenge and is the first player to go into the book.

38 MIN: And here's the response from Mali...So close! Diabate's free-kick crashes off one post, runs along the line and hits the other post, before Traore skies the follow-up!

39 MIN: Diakite had a chance there and Mali can consider themselves very unlucky not to be ahead.

40 MIN: Barcelona midfielder Keita is shown a yellow card for persistent fouling; or is it for dissent since he was seen arguing with the referee.

42 MIN: Diabate looks to latch onto a through-ball but Ghana keeper Kwarasey is quick off his line to gather the loose ball.

45 MIN: Diabate wants a corner and it looks like he's right as replays shows the ball went behind of the head of Mensah but the ref points for a goal-kick.

45+1 MIN: There will be two minutes of added time.

45+2 MIN: John Paintsil sends in a lovely cross and...Ayew rises well and tries to glance a header into the far corner...but it goes just wide!

HT - The referee blows up for full-time and it's Ghana 0-0 Mali at the break.

46 MIN: Mali get the second half underway.

47 MIN: Can either side make the breakthrough?

48 MIN: Tamboura goes into the referee's notebook for leaving a foot in on Ayew.

50 MIN: John Paintsil goes into the referee books...'Diabate looks to peel off the back of Mensah but is offside.

51 MIN: Good inter-positional play by Ghana. A flick on to Asamoah, who does well to keep the ball in play on the right flank but slightly overhits his cross.

53 MIN: Ayew looks to break from midfield with pace but is brought down by Diakite, who is duly shown a yellow card. That's the third of the second half already.

54 MIN: Muntari lines up the free-kick but his effort goes well over.

55 MIN: Chance for the Black Stars. Dede Ayew finds space after a lovely one-two with Kwadwo Asamoah and goes for goal. The shot is too hot for the Malian goalie who spills the ball but recovers to smother the loose ball with two Ghana players, Sulley and Dede ready to pounce!

58 MIN: First substitution...by Ghana. Sulley Muntari goes off to be replaced by Charles Takyi. Would 0-0 be such a bad result for both sides?

60 MIN: Dede Ayew seems to be a mouthful for the Malians. He has brought down again. Ghana win a free-kick in a dangerous position, 35 yards from goal in the right channel.

61 MIN: Badu chips in the free-kick but it's overhit and goes behind for a goal-kick. What a waste.

62 MIN: Dede Ayew again but as usual brought down by the Malians. Bakaye Traore is booked after bringing down the youngster, who deceived the Mali midfielder with a sharp turn.

63 MIN: Asamoah Gyan behind the ball...

64 MIN:.....curls a superb free-kick into the yawning net for Ghana's first GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!

65 MIN: MALI SUB: Diabate is replaced by Dembele...Mali have really struggled to get going in this second half and look a tired side.

66 MIN: Mali react. They win a corner...Keita curls a free-kick into the box which is nodded behind for a corner.

67 MIN: So close! The unmarked Maiga rises to meet the corner but heads over!...Maiga really should have hit the target there.

70 MIN: Four teams have already qualified for the quarter finals - Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Tunisia.

71 MIN: Boye looks to be in some pain after a challenge with Dembele.

72 MIN:Boye is stretchered off. It looks like the Rennes' defender will have to be replaced.

73 MIN: Mali corner. Mensah gets up well to head clear. The ball's then delivered back into the box but Paintsil's fouled and Ghana are handed a free-kick.

74 MIN: Ghana win a free-kick 30 yards from goal but it's fired straight at Kante, who clear for Mali.

75 MIN: GOOOOAAALLLLL! Ayew doubles Ghana's advantage! Gyan backheels the ball to Ayew and, after turning his marker inside out, the Marseille striker hits a low grounder to slot home Ghana's second!

76 MIN: MALI SUB: Maiga off, Yatabare on.

77 MIN: Mali continue to press and Dembele nearly connects but sees the ball drift just over his head. Pressure from the Malians.

80 MIN: Paintsil's header back is a risky one but Kwarasey is wise to it.

83 MIN: Will Ghana buckle under the pressure or...Okay, here we go. Dembele does well to win a corner and there's a brief spat between him with Boye but the referee steps in to quickly calm things down.

84th MALI Sub: Traore is replaced by Sow.

86 MIN: The Ghana end of the penalty box is packed with yellow Mali shirts but Traore fails to find one with his corner.

87 MIN: Ayew's father, Abedi Pele, is Ghana's all-time record scorer having netted 33 times in his international career. As if you didn't know...

88 MIN GHANA SUB: Asamoah makes way for Inkoom.

90 MIN: There will be four minutes of added time.

90+1 MIN: The Black Stars are happy to let Malians have the ball, sit back and soaking up the pressure. The Black Stars know the game is won.

90+2 MIN: Ghana are preparing to bring on their final substitution to wind down the clock - but there might not be time.

90+3 MIN: Takyi's sliding challenge hands Mali a free-kick midway inside Ghana's half.

90+4 MIN: GHANA SUB: Annan off, Boateng on.

FT - There goes the final whistle and it's finished...Ghana 2-0 Mali

Source: Peacefmonline.com