Stars, World XI thrill fans
The senior national team, the Black Stars, last Saturday scored four second-half goals, with two of them coming from substitute Ebenezer Assifuah to defeat the World XI 4-2 in the 2016 Vodafone Unity Match on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Assifuah's brace had the national team coasting to victory but two quick goals from Sulley Muntari and Yakubu Ayigbeni brought the World XI level before late goals by substitutes Thomas Partey and Alfred Duncan settled the encounter in favour of the Stars.
The Stars, led by Andre Dede Ayew, dominated the exchanges from the beginning but were unable to find the needed breakthrough with veteran goalie Richard Kingson proving impregnable with a string of impressive saves for the World XI.
In two of such instances in the sixth and eighth minutes, Kingson advertised cat-like reflexes to save a low shot from Christian Atsu after the Spain-based player cut in on his favourite left foot.
The World XI were on the backfoot and managed their only shot on target in the 14th minute when former Manchester United forward, Dwight Yorke shot feebly at Fatau Dauda's goal after Mubarak Wakaso lost possession in the midfield.
The loudest cheer for the World XI side came in the 26th minute when enigmatic midfielder, Sulley Muntari who earlier last week apologised for his role in the Black Stars disastrous campaign at the 2014 FIFA World Cup replaced Dutchman, Edgar Davids.
However, Muntari's introduction did not reduce the pressure on the World XI as former Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Kingson was in the spotlight once again drawing rapturous applause from the sparse crowd who watched the game with a stunning double-save which belied his age in the 27th minute .
First, he dived to parry away Samuel Tetteh's low shot and was quickly on his feet to tip Jordan Ayew's rebound over the bar.
Both sides made a raft of substitutions at the break with Black Stars coach, Avram Grant, replacing Aston Villa star, Jordan Ayew, with FC Sion's Assifuah.
The FC Sion man opened the scoring moments later when he raced past Christopher Kanu (the brother of Arsenal legend, Nwankwo Kanu) on the right flank before slipping the ball under Kingson. He completed his brace moments later when he tapped in a long pass from Frank Acheampong.
Those goals woke the World XI from their slumber and they scored when Michael Essien played a through ball to Muntari who held off Leicester City's Daniel Amartey to slide the ball underneath an onrushing Seidu Mutawakilu who replaced Fatau Dauda moments earlier.
A minute later the World 11 made the score 2-2 when bulky Nigerian international, Yakubu Ayigbeni curled a shot past Mutawakilu.
The Black Stars restarted the game at a frenetic pace with the World XI unable to cope with the pace of Acheampong in particular as he provided a great pass to enable Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey to restore the Stars lead before Duncan added to the score.