Ghana's Asamoah Gyan (left) grapples with Jamaica's Damion Stewart during their International friendly soccer match at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester, England yesterday. Ghana won 4-1. (Photo: AP)

Leicester City, England - The Reggae Boyz paid dearly for an unprofessional approach to go down 1-4 to World Cup-bound Ghana in their friendly international here at the Walkers Stadium yesterday.

The final scoreline might be flattering to the West Africans, but fate probably dealt the Reggae Boyz what they deserved after the team arrived at the venue only half an hour prior to the scheduled 4:00 pm kick-off.

Thus, kick-off was forced back more than 25 minutes and coincidentally, the Boyz's performance was a classic case of two contrasting halves.

Asamoah Gyan struck after five minutes, an own goal added to the lead on 19 minutes, captain Stephen Appiah got fortunate when his shot deflected into the goal in the 66th and Matthew Amoah added the final goal a minute later for Ghana.

Jason Euell, playing in only his second game for Jamaica, had threatened to bring the Reggae Boyz back into the contest 12 minutes after the break as most of the 11,163 spectators from Ghana celebrated their team in a carnival atmosphere.

Ghana's Eric Addo (left) tangles with Jamaica's Jamal Campbell-Ryce during their International friendly soccer match at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester, England, yesterday. (Photo: AP)

Cold and totally out of synch, the Boyz fell behind when Sulley Mantari reacted fastest to tap home the rebound from close range after Asamoah Gyan's powerful low drive was coughed up by captain Donovan Ricketts.

The Jamaican defence had difficulty containing Ghana's mobile three-man strike force, and after 12 minutes the West Africans could have increased the lead, but for ordinary finishing.

Being forced on the defensive for most of the first-quarter hour, the Reggae Boyz had their first shot on goal when the diminutive, but enterprising Jamal Campbell-Ryce earned an effort a goal on 16 minutes. It hardly bothered goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.

But Ghana were clearly in control of the game and though fortunate to get a second goal, no one could argue that it was less than they deserved.

With the Boyz pinned back in their goal area, central defender Damion Stewart failed to adequately deal with a right-sided cross and the ball bounced kindly for skipper Stephen Appiah, whose first-time, well-struck volley was met by Stewart's attempted headed clearance and into the goal, well out of the reach of Ricketts, who was moving the other way to save the shot.

But as the half grew older, Jamaica began to improve their play, though not totally consistent and authoritative.

Just shy of the half-hour mark, Mantari was allowed the luxury of space in the middle of the park and he rammed a pile-driver from just outside the goal area, which Ricketts did well to block.

The Boyz's best approach play came in the 36th minute. It was started by a confident Ricketts, who turned a Ghana striker before calmly relaying the ball to the left side. The ball was then moved down the left flank to Marlon King, who held it up superbly before passing to Khari Stephenson in the middle of the part. The big midfielder switched play smartly to the right flank, where Omar Daley centred first time for Luton Shelton to glide his header just wide of the target.
It was a sign of things to come.

Moments later, King did well in attack to relay a pass right side to the livewire Campbell-Ryce, whose cross was fumbled by Adjei and the ball fell kindly for Jason Euell, who failed to punish the goalkeeper's mistake, as he scooped his shot high over the unguarded goal.

Twelve minutes into the second half and Jamaica deservedly pulled a goal back. Looking a totally different side to the one which would have provided the English scouts with little headaches ahead of their game on Saturday, the Reggae Boyz struck through Charlton Athletics' Euell.

From a 30-yard free kick, Shane Crawford's powerful grounder was palmed away by Adjei and Euell reacted quickest to slot home from three yards.

If there were to be a comeback, fate would have none of it and against the run of play, Ghana struck twice within two minutes.

Stephenson gifted away possession needlessly in the middle of the pitch and Ghana launched a rapid counterattack. The ball was played right for captain Appiah, the man who plays his club football in Greece for Fenerbahce, and his shot on goal took a wicked deflection off a retreating Claude Davis before wrong-footing Ricketts to lodge into the back of the net.

And only a minute later, Asamoah Gyan, who plays for Italy's Udinese in the Serie A, cut inside from the left and let fly a vicious right-footer which Ricketts failed to gather cleanly for the second time in the game. Again, the big goalkeeper was punished as Matthew Amoah, who plays for Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund was present to guide the rebound home.

Still, on 74 minutes Ricardo Fuller, whose presence at the start of the second half might have inspired the vastly improved Jamaican play, was served up nicely at the edge of the penalty area, but he failed to beat the alert Adjei.

Two minutes later Crawford tested the Ghana number one 'keeper with a stinging left-footed drive, which the custodian could only block.

As the Reggae Boyz turn their attention to Saturday's historic game against a much more organised English outfit at Old Trafford, they can take comfort in the fact that they ended the game strongly and that the creative midfielder Jermaine Hue has joined the squad.

Teams:

Ghana,/B> - Sammy Adjei, Daniel Quaye,Habib Mohammed, John Mensah, Sammy Kuffour (Shilla Iliasu 79th), Michael Essien (Derek Boateng 81st), Eric Addo (Hans Sarpei 74th), Stephen Appiah (Otoo Addo 84th), Sulley Muntari (Haminu Dramani 88th), Asamoah Gyan, Matthew Amoah (Razak Pimpong 81st).

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