On this day 11 June 2017 (Exactly 3 years ago today) Asamoah Gyan scored his 50th international goal as Ghana thumped Ethiopia 5-0 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group F match at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
The Black Stars started off like a house on fire as they hit the back of the net twice in the first 15 minutes of the encounter.
The deadlock was broken by Asamoah Gyan, who headed home Thomas Agyepong’s cross – to make it 1-0 to Ghana ten minutes into the game.
It was soon 2-0 to Ghana five minutes later after John Boye controlled the ball beautifully, before beating Ethiopia goalkeeper Abel Mamo.
The then Holland-based midfielder Agyepong, who was making his international debut for Ghana, was looking lively for the home side.
The attacker showed some good skills in the 22nd minute, before unleashing a shot which was blocked and cleared away by Walia Ibex.
The Black Stars continued to pile pressure on the Walia Ibex defence as they looked to extend their lead and they did make it 3-0.
Ebenezer Ofori was the man who beat Mamo this time when his thunderous left-footed effort hit the back of the net five minutes before the halftime break
Ghana were leading 3-0 during the halftime following an entertaining first half which was dominated by the home side.
The Black Stars continued to press Walia Ibex in the second half and they extended their lead through Raphael Dwamena, who was also making his debut for Ghana.
The bulky striker hit the back of the net from close range from a rebound – making it 4-0 to Ghana with the Ethiopia defence caught ball watching.
Dwamena then completed his brace on the hour-mark – scoring from close range after Mamo failed to hold onto the ball and the striker made it 5-0 to Ghana.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori was finally seriously tested towards the 70th minute when he was forced into a good save by Ethiopia winger Shimeles Bekele from a free-kick.
Afriyie Acquah, a defensive midfielder by trade, was introduced by Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah in the closing stages of the match as home side looked to contain Ethiopia.
The Walia Ibex were unable to grab a late consolation goal as keeper Richard Ofori was alert in the dying minutes of the match and ultimately, Ghana ran out 5-0 winners
Match Summary
Venue : Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Score :Ghana 5-0 Ethiopia
Goals Scored
Asamoah Gyan (10)
John Boye (15)
Ebenrzer Ofori (40)
Raphael Dwamena (48, 60)
Ghana :Richard Ofori, Harrison Afful, Lumor Agbenyunu, John Boye, A Daniele Amartery, Ebenezer Ofori, Thomas Agyepong, Thomas Partey (Afriyie Acquah 73′), Andre Ayew (Jordan Ayew 79′), Asamoah Gyan (Majeed Waris 65′), Raphael Dwamena.
Coach : Kwasi Appiah
Ethiopia: Abel Mamo (Jamal Tassew 64′), A. Anteneh Tesfaye; Mujid Kasim, Seyoum Tesfaye (Abdulkerim Mohammed 78′), Aschalew Tamene, Mulualem Mesfen (Salem Said 46′), Shemeles Bekele, Gatwoch Panom, Adis Giday, Omod Oukri, Getaneh Kadebe
Coach: : Ashenafi Bekele
Referee: Maguette N’Diaye(Senegal)
Elsewhere;
On this day 11 June 1938 (Exactly 82 years ago today) At the French Open final, former world number one, American Don Budge beat Roderich Menzel of Czechoslovakia 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 for the 2nd leg of his Grand Slam.
NB: Budge is most famous as the first player, male or female, and only American male to win in a single year the four tournaments that comprise the Grand Slam of tennis and second male player to win all four Grand Slam events in his career after Fred Perry, and is still the youngest to achieve that feat.
He won 10 majors, of which six were Grand Slam events (consecutively, male record) and four Pro Slams, the latter achieved on three different surfaces. Budge was considered to have the best backhand in the history of tennis, at least until the emergence of Ken Rosewall in the 1950s and 1960s, although mos observers rated Budge’s backhand the stronger of the two.
On this day 11 June 1978 (Exactly 42 years ago today) Sweden’s Björn Borg won his 3rd French Open title; beat Guillermo Vilas of Argentina 6-1, 6-1, 6-3
On this day 11 June 1979 (Exactly 41 years ago today) Björn Borg won 2nd of 4 straight French titles and 6 overall after beating Victor Pecci of Paraguay 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-4
On this day 11 June 2000 (Exactly 20 years ago today) Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil won his second French Open title; beat Sweden’s Magnus Norman 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
On this day 11 June 2006 (Exactly 14 years ago today) Rafael Nadal of Spain won his 2nd straight French title; beat Roger Federer 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6
On this day 11 June 2012 (Exactly 8 years ago today) Rafael Nadal won a record seventh French Open title after ruthlessly snuffing out Novak Djokovic’s comeback to win 6-4 6-3 2-6 7-5 in a rain-affected final.
Nadal resumed leading 6-4 6-3 2-6 1-2, but his uncharacteristic wobble late on had fuelled Djokovic’s belief.
The Spaniard broke back in the first game of the day however, and then piled pressure on an unsettled Djokovic.
The Serb finally folded with a double fault to hand Nadal an 11th Grand Slam.
Having drawn level with Bjorn Borg on six Roland Garros titles the previous year, the victory gave Nadal sole ownership of the landmark.
On this day 11 June 2017 (Exactly 3 years ago today) Spain’s Rafael Nadal made history by winning a record 10th French Open title with victory over Stan Wawrinka in the Paris final.
Nadal, then 31, came through 6-2 6-3 6-1 against the Swiss third seed to claim his 15th major title.
He became the first man or woman in the Open era to have won a Grand Slam tournament 10 times.
Wawrinka, then 32, was beaten in a major final for the first time after winning his first three.
On this day 11 June 1982 (Exactly 38 years ago today) Larry Holmes knocked out Gerry Cooney in round 13 at Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles.
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
