Black Stars end Karin Cup with defeat to South Korea
South Korea defeated the Black Stars of Ghana 1-0 in the final wrap of the international friendly game in Seoul, Korea, as both teams battled fiercely in the Karin Cup.
From the outset, Ghana sought to dictate the pace, pressing high and giving the hosts little room to settle into the match.
South Korea launched the first notable attack with a corner kick, but goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was alert, punching the ball clear off the Korean header.
Ghana’s Kamaldeen Sulemana continuously tested the Korean defence with his pace, drawing fouls and forcing the Black Stars into attacking positions.
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He later unleashed a powerful shot, only to be blocked by a well-organised Korean backline. Despite Ghana’s early dominance, the first half ended goalless, with the Koreans holding firm defensively.
The second half saw South Korea return with renewed intensity, correcting their sluggish first-half performance.
Ghana thought they had taken the lead when Prince Kwabena Addo converted a well-delivered ball from Kwesi Sibo, but the goal was controversially ruled out for offside.
Korea responded with clinical teamwork, ultimately finding the net through Lee Tae-Seok, who headed home from close range, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
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The Black Stars continued to press, displaying flashes of brilliance, but could not break down the Korean defence. Later, the Koreans earned a penalty, only for Benjamin Asare to produce a superb save, denying them a two-goal cushion.
Ghana pushed desperately for an equaliser, with a late effort appearing to level the score, but it was also ruled out due to offside and a foul in the build-up.
The Black Stars’ Karin Cup campaign concluded with two defeats, conceding three goals across two matches and failing to find the back of the net.
While the team showed resilience and attacking intent, finishing the tournament without a goal highlights areas requiring tactical adjustments and sharper execution in front of goal for future competitions.
