Ghana off to a winning start

Ghana line up before facing Paraguay

Ghana 2 (Essien 58, Boateng 63) Paraguay 1 (Guzman 69)

Goals by European-based players Michael Essien and Derek Boateng gave Ghana victory in their opening match at the World Youth Championship in Argentina.

The African runners-up looked like running away with the game after going 2-0 up on 63 minutes, but ended up hanging on after Paraguay pulled a goal back with 20 minutes left.

The Black Satellites were indebted to goalkeeper Maxwell Banahene, who made two superb saves in a minute from Celso Esquivel and Julio Gonzalez.

He was beaten by a Gonzalez header in the last minute, but Patrick Villars saved the day by clearing off the line.

Ghana had enjoyed the best of a tight first half, and took a deserved lead on 58 minutes when Razak Pimpong centred, and Essien, based in the French first division with Bastia, fired in the opener.

Five minutes later, Panathinaikos striker Boateng took advantage of a defensive mistake and beat the keeper in a one-on-one situation.

Ghana looked like adding to their lead but Tomas Guzman's goal after Jorge Britez's header rebounded off the bar made them sweat in the later stages.

The Satellites next face Iran on Thursday, when a win will take them into the second round.

Ghana: Banahene, Muntari, Essien, Villars, Pappoe (capt), Obodai (Owusu-Ansah 89), Mensah, Pantsil, Ibrahim, Pimpong, Boateng
Subs not used: Owu (GK), Inusah, Thompson, Osei, Issah, Duah