Ghana's Black Maidens survived a red card and a late equaliser to beat Argentina 5-4 on penalties and book a U-17 World Cup quarter-final spot.
Ghana's Black Maidens are into the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and they did it the hard way. Playing with ten players, they edged Argentina 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match finished 1-1, with Jessica Appiah stepping up to score the winning spot-kick.
Ghana struck first and did it with real purpose. Cynthia Obinsrewuo worked space down the right and pulled the ball back across for Appiah, who finished with confidence. Argentina pushed hard for a reply, and Mercedes Diz nearly delivered when she broke through on goal, only to see her effort clip the crossbar. Obinsrewuo thought she had made it 2-0 after chasing a long ball and lifting it over goalkeeper Bianca Virga, but the offside flag cancelled the goal.
The game turned with 13 minutes left, when Hajara Adam picked up a second yellow card and Ghana were reduced to ten. Argentina made the extra player count almost immediately. A looping free-kick found Diz, who timed her header perfectly to beat goalkeeper Belinda Marku Aklie and level the score.
Neither team could find a winner in the remaining time, so the tie went to penalties. Ghana held their nerve, Argentina's Oriana Gomez missed her spot-kick, and Appiah sealed the 5-4 win to send the Black Maidens through.
For Ghana, it was a gritty show of resilience from a young side that refused to fold after going a player down. The Black Maidens now move on to the last eight, carrying the hopes of a football-loving nation.
