Ghana breeze by Guinea, reach fifth straight ANC semifinal

AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

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Ghana reached a fifth successive African Nations Cup semifinal as they breezed past Guinea 3-0 in Malabo.

Avram Grant's Black Stars will now play hosts Equatorial Guinea on Thursday after Christian Atsu scored twice and Kwesi Appiah added another to complete a routine win.

Guinea's misery was completed when goalkeeper Naby Yattara, who had been booked in the first half for shoving Atsu, rushed out of his goal in the fourth minute of injury time and was sent off for flattening Asamoah Gyan with a wild kick.

Yattara had beaten as early as the fourth minute by Atsu and Ghana were heading for the last four when Appiah scored on the stroke of half-time to give the Black Stars a two-goal cushion.

Ghana's progress was confirmed after 61 minutes when Atsu delivered a wonderful dipping shot which gave Yattara absolutely no chance and posted a contender for goal of the tournament.

Guinea only made the quarterfinals after winning a drawing of lots on Thursday to emerge from Group D at the expense of Mali, but they had failed to beat Ghana in this competition in five attempts and never looked looked like breaking their duck.

The game was switched to the Estadio de Malabo because of concerns about the pitch in Mongomo and Ghana instantly found the surface to their liking as Atsu capitalised from the game's first attack.

Appiah burst down the left flank to find Marseille's Andre Ayew and his clever back-heel into the path of Atsu allowed the Chelsea forward on loan at Everton to finish from six yards out.

Guinea were visibly stunned and they almost conceded a second moments later when Atsu drove into the penalty area and Fode Camara did well to block.

Ghana were relieved when Guinea skipper Ibrahima Traore found the side netting from a tight angle but the Black Stars were in control of a scrappy affair, even if scoring chances were few and far between.

Baissama Sankoh's miscued clearance set up Ghana's second as Cambridge forward Appiah accepted the gift to slip the ball under Yattara.

Guinea's hopes of mounting a fightback seemed distant as they had failed to score twice in an African Nations Cup match for three years, but three minutes into the second half Traore crossed for Abdoul Camara to head over.

But Ghana wrapped it up when Atsu collected possession out on the right flank and cut inside to unleash a swerving and dipping shot which flew into the top corner.