Austria scored in either half to secure a 2-1 win over Ghana in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia. Hannah Fankhauster scored in the 12th minute to give her side the lead after she got on the end of a beautiful team effort. Laura Spinn arrowed in a low cross from the right, which Valentina Maedl cleverly let it run through her legs for Fankhauser to drill home for the opener.
The reflexes of Austria goalkeeper Mariella El Sherif came to light as she pulled off a wonderful stop from Stella Nyamekye to keep her side in the game. Ghana continued to press for the equalizer but the World Cup debutants held on to their slim lead until the break.
After recess, Yussif Basigi introduced Mafia Nyame and Beline Nyarkoh for Salamatu Abdulai and Asana Mohammed. Again, Ghana captain Stella Nyamekye saw her long range effort hit the post in the 52nd minute.
Austria came close yet again in search of the second goal but a good block by Afi Amenyeku denied them.
Tracey Twum then headed wide from point-blank range following a pinpoint Comfort Yeboah delivery, before the bar denied Nyamekye scoring a goal-of-the-tournament contender. The game’s second goal was against the run of play, as Asana Alhassan was punished for handling the ball in the box, and Nicole Ojukwu buried the resulting spot-kick to make it 2-0 for Austria.
Tracey Twum’s pass to Beline Nyarkoh saw the latter’s effort parried away to safety. Stella Nyamekye pulled one back in the 90th minute but that wasn’t enough as the game ended 2:1 in favour of Austria.
Ghana will play their second group E game against Japan on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
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