By Ameenu Shardow
The sending-off of Daniel Opare proved very costly for Ghana in their friendly defeat to Brazil on Monday.
The whole complexion of the game changed in favour of the Selecao’s after the Standard Liege defender received his marching orders in the 33rd minute when referee Mike Dean unduly flashed the second yellow card.
The 20-year-old had been earlier booked for a rush challenge on Brazilian star-striker Neymar but was very unlucky not to escape the second.
Tumbling Opare raced into defender Lucio of which the English ref deemed unjust but replays showed no contact whatsoever between the two, at least for the parts the experienced defender was clutching.
The Brazilians handed the initiative by the sending off, pushed on from there and were duly rewarded with a goal on the stroke of halftime through striker Leandro Damiao.
That solitary strike later emerged the match-winner as no more goals were scored even though Ghana made a brave effort to draw level in the dying embers of the game.
Monday’s defeat confirmed Brazil’s superiority over Ghana as the Black Stars has now failed in four attempts to even pick up a draw against the five-time world champions.
Watch the highlights of the Ghana-Brazil friendly
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