Saturday, Aug 5, 1500 GMT
Jeanne d'Arc (Senegal) - Hearts Of
Oak (Ghana) 2:4
Before the match
Hearts Of Oak, last minute
winners over Al Ahly two weeks ago in the first match, are looking to add
valuable away points to their campaign. Only the group first will advance
to the final and away points seem to be the crucial factor.
Jeanne d'Arc meanwhile have
to recover from their defeat at Lobi Stars and are already under pressure
to win here. They started as group's dark horse after eliminating title
holders Raja Casablanca in the qualification.
1st half
-('4) first opportunity
for Jeanne d'Arc
-('7) huge opportunity for
Jeanne d'Arc after some fine passing against a mispositioned defence a
player is free 7 meters in front of the goal but his shot is a bit too
harmless for the keeper
-('9) free kick for Jeanne
dark - instead of shooting from (too) far a cross ball is played into the
area, catching the Hearts defence sleeping. It becomes a nice triangle
play and an easy goal for #5 Pascal Camara with no chance for the keeper
- 1:0
-('12) nice attack by Hearts
and Jenne d'Arc is lucky that referee whistles offside
-('15) a weird goal:
counter attack by Hearts and from the right hand side a player plays a
low ball into the penalty area. The targeted striker misses the ball but
it starts to jump caused by the ground. This makes a defender and the keeper
miss the ball as well, irritated by the other misses and the ball rolls
into the corner at the second goal post - 1:1
-('20) another good opportunity
for Hearts attackers which again got the defenders beaten on a counter
attack. The ball hits the outside of the net.
-('23) good opportunity
for Jeanne d'Arc - a close miss wide right
-('34) another critical
offside call against Hearts who could have had a huge opportunity otherwise
- Jeanne d'Arc answers with attacking
-('36) Hearts keeper rescues
against a broken through striker
-('38) Jeanne d'Arc distance
shot by #15 Niokhor, saved - looked rather spectacular than dangerous
-('39) now it's Hearts turn
again but they cannot get moore then a half chance themselves
Jeanne d'Arc defenders
look easily irritated when Hearts forwards attack them during build up
-('41) Hearts: close range
header by # 3 Emmanuel Kuffour saved for a corner
-('45) this time it is the
Hearts keeper who lokks a bit surprised by a strange bouncing ball. But
it hops across the bar anyway
-('injury time) in last
moment a Ghanaian defender steps in to keep a Jeanne d'Arc striker from
scoring from about 8 meters
halftime 1:1
a lively match with two
teams who have their strength rather in attack than in defence
2nd half
-('51) after Hearts keeper
misses a cross ball a first big 2nd half opportunity for Jeanne d'Arc,
but #10 Sarr misses the goal narrowly with his header wide left. Several
defenders had positioned themselves on the line to be able to rescue
-('53) a similar big opportunity
for Hearts, a header beats the keeper but misses narrowly wide left, too
-('55) a Jeanne d'Arc
defender squanders the ball in build up (did the ground play a role?),
Ismael Addo? takes it, paces off and score with style into the corner at
the second goal post - 1:2
-('56) A Jeanne d'Arc attacker
jumps into the keeper and causes a minute long injury delay
-('63) fine goal against
a lethargic defence: alow ball into the penalty area from the right hand
side finds Ismael Addo who with the back to the goal takes the ball turns
and scores with a low shot into the left corner - 1:3
-('70) a Senegales player
is lucky to escape with yellow after an ugly looking late challenge -
apart from this scene
the match yet has been a normal one without any major incidents
-('74) all the 2nd half
Jeanne d'Arc had tried with high balls and finally it has worked: a #10
Sarr header curves over the keeper who has left his goal - 2:3
Jeanne d'Arc clearly
has gained confidence and attacks but...
-('77) ...is beaten by
a counter attack along the left hand side where two players run unchallenged.
They curve around the keeper who has left goal too early and now face two
defenders trying to shelter the goal. The first shot is blocked but the
second attempt hits the net (#10 Ajugou?) - 2:4
-('80) a Senegalese attacker
wants a penalty but the referee says no foul
-('82) Hearts: dangerous
shot but saved - next attempt seconds later misses by a close margin
-('85) another huge scene
for Hearts on the counter attack - only in the last moment a defender
can deflect for a corner (Addo again? the numbers are difficult to read
- white on yellow)
-('89) another header opportunity
for Jeanne d'Arc but the way to the goal seemed closed
-('injury time) Hearts keeper
plucks down a last cross
-('injury time) Jeanne d'Arc:
a very last cross and a header which has to be cleared off the line by
a defender
-('injury time) Hearts keeper
plucks down a very very last cross - the match is over
final result 2:4
A disappointing second half
by Jeanne d'Arc while Hearts were very dangerous on their counter attacks.
Hearts Of Oak picked valuable points and can dream of a race for a place
in the final. They now lead the group but ony 2 of 6 matches are played
yet.
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