Ghana beat Equatorial Guinea to reach final after crowd trouble causes lengthy interruption

Published on: 09 February 2019

African Cup of Nations, Malabo - Ghana 3 (J Ayew 42 pen, Wakaso 46, A Ayew 75) Equatorial Guinea 0

Ghana reached the final of the African Cup of Nations with a 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea after the match was suspended due to crowd trouble.

Ghana were coasting with a three-goal advantage, set to end the dreams of the stand-in host nation, before Equatorial Guinea's fans' missile-throwing forced their rivals to seek shelter on the pitch around eight minutes from the end of normal time.

Ghana had made the breakthrough three minutes before half-time as Kwesi Appiah was fouled by goalkeeper Felipe Ovono inside the penalty area.

Jordan Ayew took the resultant penalty, casually rolling it into the net. And they doubled their lead on the break in time added on at the end of the half, with Christian Atsu playing in Wakaso Mubarak, who made himself space in the middle to smash it home.

Andre Ayew wrapped the game up 15 minutes from time with a tidy tap-in from a neat squared pass from Appiah on the left.

But the game had been marred by some unedifying scenes throughout as Equatorial Guinea fans threw bottles and other objects onto the pitch from the stands. It reached a nadir eight minutes from time when Ghana's supporters were forced to leave their seats and seek shelter with riot police on the pitch.

After more than half an hour's interruption in play, during which Ghana fans were escorted away to safety, the match resumed, but for only three minutes before the referee blew the final whistle and brought to an end a truly shocking and strange night of football as Ghana advanced to the final.

KEY MOMENTS

21' CHANCE! Atsu is played in by Appiah, whose ball is just a touch too heavy - again Ovono is eager out of his hutch.

30' CHANCE! Atsu plays it back to Wakaso on the edge of the box, and that bounces across the turf and wide of Ovono's right-hand post.

40' PENALTY TO GHANA! Ovono was simply not quick enough to the ball as Appiah raced through on goal. The goalkeeper took the ankles and got a booking for his troubles.

42' GOAL! Ayew takes...and casually rolls it into the net as Ovono goes the wrong way.

45'+1 GOAL! ...and on the break, Atsu sets it up, Wakaso Mubarak makes a terrific run, moves into the middle, and smashes it home

75' GOAL! Neat little tap-in from Andre Ayew from a squared ball across the box from Appiah, who's done well to lure Ovono out from his sticks again.

82' PLAY IS HALTED as Ghana's fans take shelter on the pitch after they are pelted with missiles.

A police helicopter flies over the statdium during an interruption of the 2015 African Cup of Nations semi-final football match between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana in Malabo (AFP)

A police helicopter flies over the statdium during an interruption of the 2015 African Cup of Nations semi-final football match between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana in Malabo (AFP)AFP

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