Ghana hold the aces to qualify to Brazil 2014 World Cup after clobbering Egypt 6-1 on Tuesday in Kumasi thanks to Asamoah Gyan’s brace.
The Al Ain striker opened the scoring after five minutes when he collected a pass from Abdul Majeed Waris and drifted wide to slam in at the far post with a powerful shot.
The Black Stars were dangerous on the break and the vibrancy about their play didn’t take long to yield dividends.
Waris was heavily checked by Wael Gomaa and the Russia-based player used the outside of his foot to lay a pass to Gyan.
Egypt were by this time on the ropes and could barely threaten Ghana’s back line which had new faces Rashid Sumaila and Jerry Akaminko as centre-backs.
Ghana then doubled their lead courtesy a Wael Gomaa own goal but the credit goes to Michael Essien whose wayward pass across the face of goal took a deflection.
Andre Ayew did all the work with a meandering dribble before releasing Essien on the right who weaved his way inside the area but delayed in pulling the trigger.
The Chelsea ace’s attempt to lay pass found the legs of Gomaa who directed it into the net.
Egypt will not go down quietly after 33 minutes, the Pharoahs came out of one of scary attack when Mohammed Abou-Treika’s free-kick was headed wide by Mohammed Naguib.
Then the seven-time African champions pulled one back through Abou-Treika after Rashid Sumaila brought down in the 41st minute
But the Black Stars regained their two-goal advantage when Waris headed in Sulley Muntari’s free-kick two minutes later.
Ghana went into the break with their heads high but were wary about Egypt’s backlash in the second half.
The script was unchanged and captain Gyan grabbed his second goal of the match with a feeble header on Muntari’s mis-kicked volley.
Goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy was completely beaten and had no answer to that effort. The gloves man picked up an injury and was substituted by Ahmed El Shenawy.
Ghana were still not satisfied and piled on the pressure.
Waris was the architect this time round when he burrowed into the box and was brought down by El Shenawy.
Referee Bouchaib EL Ahrach to the spot for a penalty-the second in the match-and Muntari slotted home majestically.
The match was over as a contest but the Black Stars were still hungry for more goals.
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah shuffled his cards and brought on Mubarak Wakaso, Christian Astu and Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu for Gyan, Ayew and Muntari.
Atsu climbed off the bench and powered in the sixth goal after cutting in from the right and unleashing a low grounder .
Ghana have one foot in Brazil and only a miracle can deny them a third successive World Cup finals ahead of the return leg in Cairo on 19 November.
