Ghana crushes Angola…To pick semi final slot

Hosts Angola yesterday crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in frustrating fashion as Ghana edged their quarter-final tie.

Gyan received a pass from Kojo Asamoah before firing a diagonal shot into the bottom corner.

Ghana, a four-time African Cup champion who has also qualified for the World Cup later this year, will either play Zambia or Nigeria. The two teams meet Monday.

Later Sunday, Ivory Coast plays Algeria as two World Cup qualifying teams meet in another quarterfinal.

Luanda's 50,000 seater stadium was full to capacity as the boisterous home support urged Angola on, and the home side started well, pressing forward and winning an early corner after Flavio's long range shot took a deflection off a Ghana defender.

Missing the midfield leadership of Chelsea's Michael Essien and Bologna's Stephen Appiah, Ghana looked shaky, with Andre Ayew getting a yellow card in the opening minute for a late challenge on Mabina.

And Ghana's left back Addy Lee twice almost beat his own goalkeeper Richard Kingson in the opening quarter of an hour.

That gave the home crowd encouragement, but Gyan's 16th minute goal quietened the home support.

Asamoah, who plays for Udinese in Italy's Serie A, pumped a long ball forward to Gyan, who outpaced Angola captain Kali to score from 15 yards (meters). Angola pushed for an equalizer in the second half, and went close in the 70th when Gilberto's free kick from 20 yards was deflected just wide. Manucho missed another good chance two minutes later when he headed wide after substitute Job had sent in an enticing cross from the right.

In the final minute, defensive midfielder Isaac Vorsah denied Angola a last gasp equalizer when he cleared captain Kali's well placed shot off the line.YS/BBC