The Qantas Socceroos will meet African powerhouse Ghana tomorrow in Sydney presented by Foxtel, before heading into 'Super June' where they have four World Cup qualifiers in the month – against Iraq in Brisbane (1 June) and Dubai (7 June), against Qatar in Doha (14 June) and against China in Sydney (22 June).
Preceding the Qantas Socceroos match, the Matildas will tackle Canada prior to heading to Vietnam for the AFC Women's Asian Cup which commences on Wednesday.
AUSTRALIA v GHANA - HEAD TO HEAD
Australia comes up against Ghana for the sixth time in a men’s senior A international match, the first confrontation occurring in 1995.
In five previous matches, Australia won four and Ghana won one.
Date AUS-GHA Match type (venue)
18-06-95 2-1 Friendly (Sydney)
21-06-95 1-0 Friendly (Adelaide)
24-06-95 0-1 Friendly (Perth)
14-09-96 2-0 Simba Cup (Durban)
14-11-06 1-1 Friendly (London)
The two countries have also met at the Olympics/Under 23 level, twice. Ghana won both matches, which were at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Ghana won the group stage match 3-1, and later in the tournament defeated Australia in the third-place (bronze medal) playoff 1-0.
Last time they met
Date: 14-Nov-2006
Australia 1 (John Aloisi 27’ pen)
Ghana 1 (Junior Agogo 75’)
Australian line-up: Mark Schwarzer (gk), Scott Chipperfield, Brett Emerton, Patrick Kisnorbo, Craig Moore (Michael Thwaite h/t), Vince Grella (c) (Kasey Wehrman 53’), Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire (Brett Holman 76’), Mile Sterjovski, Mark Bresciano (Ryan Griffiths 78’), John Aloisi.
Cautions: Chipperfield 60’
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England)
Crowd: 14,379
MINI-PROFILE – GHANA
Ghana Football Association
Founded: 1957 (affiliated with FIFA since 1958)
World Cup record: qualified once (2006)
FIFA ranking, May 2008: 14 (Australia 43)
Highest FIFA ranking: 14
Major honours: Champions, African Cup of Nations - four times (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
Web: http://www.ghanafa.org
Form guide (all matches played so far in 2008):
20-01-08 W2-1 v Guinea (Accra) – African Cup of Nations
24-01-08 W1-0 v Namibia (Accra) – African Cup of Nations
28-01-08 W2-0 v Morocco (Accra) – African Cup of Nations
03-02-08 W2-1 v Nigeria (Accra) – African Cup of Nations - quarter final
07-02-08 L0-1 v Cameroon (Accra) – African Cup of Nations - semi final
09-02-08 W4-2 v Ivory Coast (Accra) – African Cup of Nations - third-place play-off
26-03-08 L1-2 v Mexico (London) – Friendly
(Ghana commence qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June 2008)
FORM GUIDE – AUSTRALIA (last nine matches)
08-07-07 D1-1 v Oman (Bangkok) – AFC Asian Cup
13-07-07 L1-3 v Iraq (Bangkok) - AFC Asian Cup
16-07-07 W4-0 v Thailand (Bangkok) - AFC Asian Cup
21-07-07 D1-1 (lost on pens 3-4) v Japan (Hanoi) - AFC Asian Cup - quarter final
11-09-07 L0-1 v Argentina (Melbourne) – Friendly
17-11-07 W1-0 v Nigeria (London) – Friendly
06-02-08 W3-0 v Qatar (Melbourne) - World Cup qualifier
22-03-08 D0-0 v Singapore (Singapore) – Friendly
26-03-08 D0-0 v China (Kunming) – World Cup qualifier
Foxtel are the presenting partner of Australia’s World Cup journey.
QANTAS SOCCEROOS V GHANA, kick-off 8pm
MATILDAS V CANADA, kick-off 5.15pm
Sydney Football Stadium
Friday 23 May
Gates Open 5pm
Media Entry from 4.30pm
MATCH OFFICIALS - Australia v Ghana
Referee Hajime Matsuo – Japan
Assistant Referee Matthew Cream – Australia
Assistant Referee Nathan Gibson - Australia
4th Official Matthew Breeze - Australia
MATCH OFFICIALS - Australia v Canada
Referee Tammy Ogston - Australia
Assistant Referee Sarah Ho - Australia
Assistant Referee Allyson Flynn - Australia
4th Official Sara Hodson - Australia
TELEVISION (Australia v Ghana):
LIVE to all centres on Fox Sports 1
Telecast commences: 7.30pm AEST.
TICKETS:
Tickets are available from Ticketek, ph 132 849, web - http://www.ticketek.com.au and all Ticketek outlets.
TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Website - 131500.com.au
Event Weblink - http://www.131500.com.au/outandabout/ev ... ts_id=2573
Special Information - Save time and buy a 'Moore Park ticket' - this all-in-one ticket includes your return rail journey to Central Station and travel to and from Moore Park on connecting Moore Park Shuttle Buses. Available from most CityRail stations.
CityRail Services - CityRail services are operating to a normal weekday timetable.
Sydney Buses Services - Sydney Buses is running express services to Moore Park - Route 1 from Chalmers Street, Central Station from 4.30pm to 8pm, Route 3 from Alfred St, Circular Quay from 5.10pm until 7.40pm. Sydney Buses is also running a Limited Stop service, Route 3 from Elizabeth St, Martin Place from 5pm until 7.55pm picking up on Elizabeth St at Market St and Bathurst St and on Liverpool St (near Museum Station) then express to Moore Park.
Return services are operating from the Moore Park Bus Station (Stand A) to Central Station (Route 1) and Circular Quay (Route 3) for approximately one hour after the game. A special event ticket or Moore Park ticket is required for travel on these buses. Special Event Bus return tickets cost $5.40 Adult, $2.70 Concession or $13.50 for a family; or purchase a Moore Park ticket from your CityRail train station for train and bus travel to and from the game.
Please note that regular tickets (TravelTen, TravelPass, DayTripper and Pensioner Excursion) are not accepted on Special Event buses however premium tickets (SydneyPass and Explorer) are accepted.
Road Closures - Please check http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/index.html for full details of any road closures.
Parking - Fox Studios Australia (entry via Lang Rd); Gold Members Carpark (entry via Driver Ave - Gold Members only). Each carpark has sections for RTA disability permit holders.
On event days, limited parking is also available at Kippax Park (entry via Driver Ave, off Moore Park Rd) and at Moore Park Car Park (at the southern end of Driver Ave, adjacent to the Hordern Pavilion).
Socceroos face Ghana in preparation for Super June
Moderators: Randoman, BillShankly, arxidi, Forum Admins
Re: Socceroos face Ghana in preparation for Super June
TOO strong for Australia they will find it hard against the Africans.
Re: Socceroos face Ghana in preparation for Super June
Ghana are just wonderful to watch, play beautiful football and that #7 is a world class.
For australia win is a win , tried few players, not too many impressed, clearly lacking playmaker, hopefully Kewell gets some fitness in him.
Ghana just seemed another notch up from Australia.
Topor-Stanley im not so sure about him
For australia win is a win , tried few players, not too many impressed, clearly lacking playmaker, hopefully Kewell gets some fitness in him.
Ghana just seemed another notch up from Australia.
Topor-Stanley im not so sure about him