Evans Adotey Pleased With Black Maidens' Fight-Back

Ghana coach Evans Adotey says his Black Maidens showed great fight at the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup which unfortunately came to an end at the quarter-final stage.

The Black Maidens lost out to Italy 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time in San Jose on Thursday.

After making a dream start courtesy a fourth minute goal by Jane Ayieyam, the Black Maidens fell back 2-1 by the 17th minute.

However, they persevered and got the equalizer in the 90th minute through Ernestina Abambila only to go out on penalties.

"My girls played to my strategy. After going down, I had to change my game plan and that enabled me to level the score.

"Unfortunately, I lost the battle. I commend my girls, they played very well to my game plan," Adotey said after the game.

Though unable to achieve his target [reaching the final], Adotey was gracious in defeat and says the work to get Ghana to another World Cup begins after arriving home.

"Italy have gone through, so I would commend them," the Ghana coach said as he congratulated the Azzurine for making the last-four for the first time.

"I was thinking of going to the next stage but unfortunately, I have lost the battle. I have to go back with my girls and start thinking about the way forward for the next edition of the World Cup qualifiers."

On a night when the big decisions went against his side, Adotey says he was not pleased with many of the calls.

Italy scored one of their goals from a penalty and missed another from the spot in the second half as Ghana had a penalty appeal turned away and a goal disallowed to add up their frustration.

"I am upset. I wasn't happy with the way the match traveled to the end. The inconsistent judgement against Ghana was so terrible," he said.

Source: Ghanafa.org