Angola 0-1 Ghana

Asamoah Gyan’s early goal proved to be the winner for Ghana

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

Asamoah Gyan got the only goal of the game in Luanda with 16 minutes played.

The Rennes forward pounced on a fine ball from Kwadwo Asamoah and slotted in calmly from the right-hand side of the penalty area for the Black Stars.

Angola were left to rue several missed opportunities, with Palancas Negras striker Manucho wasting a number of good chances to score.

But a young Ghana side, shorn of many of its established stars, will be proud of holding out against Angola.

The score should have been 1-1 in the 29th minute when Manucho’s header from a Flavio cross looked goal-bound, but Ghana ‘keeper Richard Kingson made a fantastic save.

Kingson was then given a yellow card for holding on to the ball for too long and the Palancas Negras were awarded an indirect free kick in the penalty area.

However, Manucho could only shoot high over the bar.

The Real Valladolid striker had another woeful miss just eight minutes later.

This time, Flavio made an attempt on goal from the right, Kingson pushed the ball away, losing his balance in the process, leaving Manucho with an open goal.

But once again, the 26-year-old blasted over the bar.

Manucho continued the trend in the second half, heading high over the bar from a Job cross in the 72nd minute.

Kali looked certain to score in injury time when Kingson dashed out of his goal and tripped over, but Isaac Vorsah cleared to maintain Ghana’s 1-0 advantage.

The Black Stars struggled to get through the Angola back line in their quest for a second goal.

Palancas Negras goalkeeper Carlos Fernandes saved a long-range shot from Kwadwo Asamoah late in the game.

The Black Stars were put under intense by the hosts late on and survived nearly six minutes of added injury time.

Ghana go through the semi-finals where they will face the winner of Monday’s quarter-final match between Zambia and Nigeria.

There looks to be more injury worries for Ghana after goalscorer Gyan went off midway through the second half clutching the back of his right thigh.