MTNFootball

Ghana's Kwarasay Larsen Adam

Ten-man Ghana succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in an international friendly in London on Monday.

Three world-class saves from Norway-born Adam Kwarasey prevented the South Americans from winning by a wider margin.

Brazil scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time thanks to a strike by Damiao.

But their breakthrough came only after Ghana defender Daniel Opare was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Damaio filtered through Ghana’s offside trap off an incisive Rolandinho pass to drive home through the legs of Adam Kwarasey to register the game’s only goal.

It was the Black Stars who started the game on the front-foot as they created a plethora of chances earlier on.

A low drive from Sulley Muntari failed to reach its target as Lucio cleared for the first corner kick of the game and the Inter Milan man's long-range shot proved unnecessary as it kept rising in the 6th minute.

Ghana’s brightest chance came soon afterwards as Samuel Inkoom got behind the Brazilian defence following a neat ball threaded through by Derek Boateng but the Dnipro player’s lack of concentration and control at the vital point failed to deliver the correct pass for a tap-in.

Ghana’s rampaging start to the game at the Craven Cottage was halted after a 33rd minute sending off of Opare.

The 20-year-old was earlier booked for a late challenge on star-man Neymar but was very unlucky to receive the second booking.

The Standard Liege defender’s off balance run, collided with Thiago Silva’s but referee Mike Dean deemed it a cautionary challenge but replays showed Opare was innocent.

This moment changed the whole complexion of the game as the South Americans took total control of the game but failed to make significant in-roads into the Ghana defence.

After the break Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey stole the show by making three top draw saves to deny Ronadlinho twice and he acrobatically stopped a goal-bound header from striker Alexander Pato.

The Norway-born shot stopper’s performance will send shivers down the spine of previous first choice Richard Kingson.

In the end, it was generally a good exercise for both sides especially the Ghanaians who handed senior debuts to midfielders Rabiu Mohammed and Albert Adomah.

Ghana will play Sudan in the decisive 2012 Nations Cup qualifier next month and would engage rivals Nigeria days later in an international friendly also to be played in London.