Ghana make Brazil to eat back their words after beating the South Americans 1-0 in the round of 16 clash at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
The Black Starlets who played the entire second half of the game with ten men were resilient as they had to endure an incredible six minutes of added time after Isaac Donkor had put Ghana in the lead in the 51st minute.
Brazilian coach, Lucho Nizzo, who arrogantly said his side were going to win the World Cup was outsmarted by Sellas Tetteh from the start of the game as Ghana could have killed off the game in the first half but appeared wasteful upfront.
Ghana, two-time winners at the World stage thus end the hopes of Brazil’s quest for a fourth title at the youth competition.
Both teams were contenders for the title and their game at this round of the competition had come too early before the expected final.
But when the referee blew his final whistle, the glum on the faces of the Brazilians told the story as the Black Starlets had lit up the skies of Gwangyang.
Ghana’s fast attacking play was instrumental from the blast of the whistle as the only time the Brazilians came back into the game was in the second half but the tiring legs of the West African side never gave up as they ensured their opponents fell by the way side.
Near misses by Ransford Osei and Sadick Adams in the opening half kept the Brazilians in contention and Ghana’s efforts was further compounded when the team was reduced to ten following a second yellow card picked up by Francis Boadi with a minute to end the first half.
Back from recess, Ghana playing with ten men came close but six minutes into the half, Isaac Donkor scored the opener in the 51st minute.
Donkor, operating from the right took a pass from the centre and delivered a shot which deflected off a Brazilian player as goalkeeper Marcelo made mess of himself when he fumbled with his first time save of the ball which ended up in the post.
As Ghana failed to double their lead, the Brazilians also pushed for the equalizer with Black Starlets keeper, Joseph Addo putting up some excellent saves.
With the minutes ticking, Brazil kept on probing for the equalizer as the tiring Ghana legs held on brilliantly.
Injuries forced the Ghana bench to effect two changes with Adams and Donkor going off for Naza and Mpong as the Black Starlets held on strongly to their lone goal lead to end the game after playing six minutes of added time.
The win for Ghana hands them a place in the quarter-final where the Black Starlets play Peru.
Ghana, thus confirm their superiority over Brazil in the youth competition, having before Wednesday’s game already met four times in the knockout phases of the tournament.
The Black Starlets, still have the upper hand with three victories to Brazil's one, the other match ending in a draw after normal time.
In 1995, the Black Starlets laid claim to their second world title by beating Brazil in the Final.
The South Americans waited two years to gain their revenge, usurping top spot from the Africans when the two met in the climax of the following edition.