ENGLAND 1 v GHANA 1
Tuesday, 29/03/2011 Kick off 20:00 BST at Wembley Stadium
International Match
England - Carroll 43'
Ghana - Gyan 90'
Capello names team
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Tuesday, 29 March, 2011
Starting eleven named to face Ghana at a sold out Wembley.
Fabio Capello has named his starting eleven to face Ghana at Wembley Stadium.
Gareth Barry captains the side in John Terry's absence while there are also starting berths for Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, James Milner, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing.
Re-visit this page after the game to read the full match report.
England
1 Joe Hart, 2 Glen Johnson, 3 Leighton Baines, 4 Gareth Barry (C), 5 Gary Cahill, 6 Phil Jagielka, 7 James Milner, 8 Jack Wilshere, 9 Andy Carroll, 10 Ashley Young 11, Stewart Downing
Substitutes 12 Robert Green, 13 Joleon Lescott, 14 Scott Parker, 15 Matt Jarvis, 16 Danny Welbeck, 17 Jermain Defoe, 18 Peter Crouch, 19 Darren Bent, 20 Scott Carson
Match Report
Last gasp Gyan denies England
By Nicholas Veevers at Wembley Stadium
Tuesday, 29 March, 2011
A stoppage time goal from Asamoah Gyan ruled out Andy Carroll's opener.
A last-gasp goal from Asamoah Gyan rescued a draw for Ghana, after a lively game at Wembley.
It had looked as though it would be England’s night until Gyan’s stoppage time leveller, after Andy Carroll had shot the Three Lions ahead in the first-half in only his second England game.
But Fabio Capello’s men couldn’t see the game out and the Black Stars, backed by a record number of away supporters at Wembley, sealed a deserved point when the Sunderland man stroked home in the 91st minute.
It was a game played in a decent spirit throughout and the scoreline was perhaps a fair reflection of the match with England enjoying the better of the first half before Ghana improved no end after the break to leave their fans in jubilant mood at the final whistle.
Despite England’s bright start, it was Ghana who really should have been ahead after just seven minutes when Kwadwo Asamoah split the defence with a crisp ball through to Dominic Adiyiah who raced clear on goal. He really looked the favourite to open the scoring as he broke into the box but, fortunately for England, Joe Hart was sharp enough to make a good save with his legs before gathering to the safety of his hands.
In response, England had two good opportunities themselves within the space of a minute to show for their superior possession. Firstly, Ashley Young fired just over the bar after being set up by Carroll, before James Milner played a fine pass through for Stewart Downing moments later. The Aston Villa man cut in from the right at full pace, but shot well over the bar with just Richard Kingson to beat.
Kingson then pulled off a magnificent save to deny Young, who lined up and then executed a shot at goal from just outside the area in the 15th minute. It was heading for the top corner, but the Blackpool ‘keeper touched the ball over at full stretch.
The Ghanaian defence were certainly leaving plenty of room behind them and it was this space which England had been looking to exploit since the first whistle. It almost paid dividends in the 24th minute too, when Downing cleverly reversed a pass for Milner on the right and when he delivered a perfect centre, it looked as though Young was odds-on to score from only a matter of yards. However, at full stretch, he could only lift his effort onto the cross bar.
England were almost made to pay for that profligacy just a minute later, when Sulley Muntari delivered a free-kick to the far post for Adiyiah. The striker somehow stretched to get on the end of it and divert the ball towards goal, but Hart denied him for a second time with a super save at full stretch, somehow shifting his balance from one side to the other to readjust himself and turn it to safety.
The Three Lions finally took the lead two minutes before the break, when Young chipped a ball to Downing in the area. His first touch ran loose, but rolled nicely into the path of Carroll who blasted home with his left-foot to give England the lead they should perhaps have already had.
Both teams made changes at the break, with Joleon Lescott introduced for England to replace Glen Johnson in defence and Phil Jagielka moving over to right-back.
It was Ghana who forced all of the pressing after the break though, cheered on by their sizeable and vocal support, and it took a fine block in the box from Gareth Barry to deflect a fierce shot from John Pantsil over the bar in the 57th minute.
With Jermain Defoe on to replace Carroll up front, there soon followed an England debut for Matt Jarvis who swapped placed with Wilshere in midfield and became the first player from Wolverhampton Wanderers to play for England’s senior team since Steve Bull.
He was followed shortly by Danny Welbeck, who only joined up with the squad earlier in the day, when he came on for Young to support the attack.
The final say was left to Gyan though, whose late run across and into the area ended with a low left-footer past Hart and into the bottom corner to leave Ghanaian voices sounding the loudest.
Post Match
Carroll: "I'm ready to score more"
Tuesday, 29 March, 2011
Liverpool striker enjoys his return to the England team.
England striker Andy Carroll scored his first senior goal against Ghana and said that he wants the chance to get more for the Three Lions.
Liverpool's £35m January signing was making his second appearance for Fabio Capello's men and fired in the opener just before half-time.
A neat flick over the defence from Ashley Young was controlled into the path of the former Newcastle United man, and from 15 yards he made no mistake, rifling low past Blackpool keeper Richard Kingson with his trusty left-foot.
"It was great to get the goal," said Carroll after the game. "The lads played well, we're obviously disappointed they scored in the last minute."
He added: "I'm coming back fit now. Getting the goal proved I'm here and ready to score goals for England."
It looked to be going according to plan with England heading for victory in a lively and enjoyable friendly encounter.
But in injury time Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan twisted and turned his way into the area before curling beyond Joe Hart to level for Ghana on their first meeting with England.
Downing, who was voted as man-of-the-match by England's official sponsor Vauxhall, was impressed by the performances of some of the players looking to make an impression on Capello.
"I think we played some good stuff, especially in the first half," the Aston Villa winger said.
"I think we proved we've got strength in depth. The players who came in played magnificently tonight."
Cahill praises Young's impact
Tuesday, 29 March, 2011
Defender salutes former team-mate after recent performances.
England defender Gary Cahill has praised former Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young after the wideman's two impressive displays for Fabio Capello's side, against Wales on Saturday and more recently Ghana.
Young was a constant livewire at Wembley during the 1-1 draw on Tuesday night. Andy Carroll fired England ahead on 43 minutes but Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan levelled for the Africans in added time to send the Ghana fans wild.
"He's got great ability," Cahill said of Young after the game.
"He gets into pockets of space and his awareness is outstanding. I thought he was brilliant against Wales and he had another great game [against Ghana]."
And looking at his own game, Cahill knows it will not be easy for him to cement his place in the national set-up with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand among the centre backs vying for a starting berth.
"There's a lot of competition for my position but I'm going to be patient and just take my chance when I can get it," he said.
Forward play pleases Fabio
Tuesday, 29 March, 2011
The Three Lions boss was happy with the way England attacked against Ghana.
Fabio Capello has revealed he was happy with England's attacking intent in their 1-1 draw with Ghana at Wembley.
The Three Lions Manager saw his side take a first half lead through Andy Carroll - his first senior goal, but Asamoah Gyan levelled late on with a fine individual goal in injury time.
“I'm happy because I saw a fantastic game," he said, "It didn't feel like a friendly game. The players played very well.
“It was an exciting game and it was an important match for the fans. It was a fast game and we played to win and always wanted to get forward and score goals."
He continued: “Those players that haven't played a lot of games here played well and it was interesting to see what they were like playing at Wembley."
Capello also praised Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, who was making his third start in successive games, and Liverpool striker Carroll earning his second cap in what was England's first ever senior international against the Black Stars.
“Carroll scored a goal and he's an important player for England. He needs more times and games to improve but it's always important for a striker to score goals," said Capello.
“Wilshere is so important. I spoke with him and told him he would play only 60 minutes and he did really well. He's another important young player for England."
Credit: England National Football Team
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