MTNFootball

Andre Ayew of Ghana (10) celebrates his goal with John Pantsil of Ghana

Two second half goals of the highest level made the difference for Ghana against a physical Mali in their Group D Africa Nations Cup clash in Franceville.

The Black Stars now need only a point from their final group game against Guinea on Wednesday to secure a place in the last eight.

The opening half was tightly contested and very physical as both teams cancelled each other out for the majority of the 45 minutes.

The game often resembled a heavyweight boxing bout, where every now and then a jab would land, but with both fighters carefully assessing one another there were no real explosive punches to speak of.

In the 25th minute, though, the first real attempt at goal arrived when Kwadwo Asamoah got in a swerving cross-goal shot, which was parried and Sulley Muntari just couldn’t direct the rebound on target.

Then in the 36th minute, Asamoah turned an opponent inside out and got the ball onto his left foot, but his shot skewed off the side of his foot and flew off target.

Mali won a free kick two minutes later and Cheick Diabate’s effort hit one post and cannoned off the other as the ball flew into safety.

And on the strike of halftime, Dede Ayew got up well to a John Pantsil cross, but his glancing header missed the far post.

In the 63rd minute the deadlock was finally broken when Gyan brilliantly curled a free kick over the wall and past Diakite’s left hand into the top corner of the net.

Mali almost drew level just four minutes later when substitute Garra Dembele got on the end of a cross from a corner kick, but his header went inches over the crossbar.

Ghana made the game safe in the 76th minute when Dede Ayew received a clever back heel from Gyan, turned defender Cedric Kante inside out with two quick changes of direction, before he drove in a low shot to the near post.

Two excellent goals that brought the game to life in the second half.