FIFA Under-20 World Cup: Watch Ebenezer Assifuah's Golazo Against France (Video)
Ghana came looking for revenge. Instead, they got a golazo.
France defeated Ghana 2-1 on Wednesday at Ataturk Stadium in Bursa, Turkey, in the first semifinal of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and although Les Bleus won the match, Ghana's Ebenezer Assifuah stole the show with a stunning golazo.
The goal came in the 47th minute. Shrugging off the challenge of a French defender, Assifuah maneuvered into position to shoot around the edge of the area. From there, he smashed the ball off the upright and into the goal past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
After seeing such power and precision, even French onlookers were left to gape in wonder.
"What a stunner. did anyone expected that!! Souks wasn't right enough, but still, ASSIFUAH with a lot to do & he rockets it off the post!
โ FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) July 10, 2013"
See for yourself. The goal appears in video form below. Enjoy.
The goal was Assifuah's fifth, which tied him for the tournament lead with Portugal's Bruma and Spain's Jese. He also scored the thrilling winnerโhis second of the matchโin Ghana's extra-time victory over Chile in the quarterfinals.
That goal can be seen here.
France and Ghana previously met in the first match of Group A, when France defeated Ghana 3-1. Les Bleus scored first again on Wednesday as Florian Thauvin finished off a slick one-two move with Jean-Christophe Bahebeck just before halftime. But Ghana fought back quickly in the second half, equalizing through Assifuah's golazo and dominating the run of play after it.
France retook the lead through Thauvin's angled, low shot in the 74th minute. Moments later, Assifuah again tested Areola, but Areola pushed the dangerous shot away.
Ghana played the final 10 minutes with a one-man advantage after France's Samuel Umtiti was sent off controversially for his second yellow card, but the Africans were unable to translate the numerical superiority into the equalizer.
