FIFA U20 World Cup: Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh admits knock-out stages will be tough after progress
Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh says the knock-out stages of the Fifa U-20 World Cup will be tough after the Black Satellites secured their place in the quarter-final of the tournament in New Zealand on Friday after impressing in the group stages.
The Black Satellites qualified for the last 16 after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium on Friday.
The Panamanians, who exit as a result of the defeat, were undone by a solitary Emmanuel Boateng goal in the 82nd minute, and missed a late penalty through Fidel Escobar.
The victory over Panama means the Black Satellites top the tough group with seven points and despite their dominance in the group stages coach Tetteh says the next phase of the competition will be challenging.
"Now we have to prepare for the Round of 16. Its going to be very tough now and our level of performance will need to rise. We have to try to work on our weaknesses," Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh said after Friday's win over Panama.
Ghana flirted with the Panamanian goal in the opening minutes of the match with two early shots on goal, both just off target. Panama responded strongly with a number of attempts of their own but neither team could convert in the opening half.
The game was transformed in the final 10 minutes as both sides abandoned all caution and went for the win. Panama substitute Ismael Diaz was the first to threaten, bursting past a couple of challenges and into the box, but shot wide when a goal appeared certain.
That miss became all the more costly a couple of minutes later when Boateng gave Ghana the lead. The Ghanaian was one-on-one with the last Panama defender and jinked and jived, with at least five touches on the ball before beating the defender, and then shooting past the goalkeeper to score.
Panama weren't done yet though and, after Jesus Araya had rattled the crossbar, they earned an 89th-minute penalty and a golden opportunity to grab a point. However, Escobar - the man fouled - slipped on his run-up and sent a wayward kick high and well wide.
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