The Black Princesses of Ghana lost two-nil to Japan in the match-day two of the Group D on Sunday evening in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
Two penalty goals by Japan at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto was enough to secure the three points from Ghana.
Ghana coach Ben Forkuo made four changes in the Black Princesses line up as Abdulai Mukarama, Cynthia Konlan, Louisa Aniwaa and Anastasia Achiaa were handed starting berth for the first time at the tournament.
The Japanese dominated the first half of the fixture with early incursions but the individual brilliance of goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan aided Ghana to hold them to a scoreless draw for the first department.
The Japanese kept tormenting the backline of the Black Princesses,but their attempts to open the score were fisted out by Cynthia Konlan on the 9th and 15th minute respectively.
Hasaacas Ladies attacker Doris Boaduwaa tried her luck with a powerful drive on the 19th minute but her effort went off target.
Japan striker Manaka came close once again to get her side to the lead but her strike was denied by the woodwork on 34th minute of the game.
The final ten minutes of the first half looked balanced as both sides possessed the ball in the middle to end it in a 0-0 draw.
In the second half, the Japanese exercised their attacking muscles to register two goals after the hour-mark through penalties.
Despite the 2-0 defeat to Japan and the 4-0 to USA in the Group D opener on Thursday, Ghana still has a lifeline following Netherlands 3-nil thrashing of USA.
Ghana will battle out with Netherlands in the final Group D fixture at the Estadio Nacional on Thursday, 14th August, 2022.
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