Ghana 1-1 Costa Rica

By Tim Vickery
BBC Sport, Peru

Ghana's Under-17 side will have to wait for their final group game

Ghana's fate in the World Under-17 Championship in Peru hangs on their final group game after David Duncan's men played out a second successive 1-1 draw against Costa Rica.

Borges gave the Central Americans the lead shortly after the break, before Jonathan Quartey rifled home the equaliser.

The draw leaves Ghana on two points, level with the Costa Ricans but two points behind group leaders China.

The Ghanaians, who were crowned under-17 champions in both 1991 and 1995, need to beat China in their final game to be sure of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

With George Appiah making a lively start down the right wing, there were hopes for an improved performance from the Black Starlets.

But although they dominated possession in the first half, it was not long before the problems in the team started to emerge.

There is a glaring lack of a left-footed player to play on the flank and open up space.

The team seems obsessed with long-range shooting and produces little collective play in the final third of the field.

The Costa Ricans took the lead just after half-time.

Borges met a corner from the left with a looping header that went over the stranded Bonsu.

It took Ghana just over 10 minutes to draw level.

A surging run from James Tagoe won a free-kick on the edge of the area, belted home by Jonathan Quartey.

The big defender was Ghana's most impressive player, though shortly afterwards he was lucky only to receive the yellow card when his foul deprived Guardia off a clear run on goal.

Ghana finished the stronger side, coach Duncan pointing out that they would have been quite happy to carry on until the next goal was scored.