The Teranga Lions and the Black Stars played out a tactically fascinating encounter in Mongomo, with Senegal deservedly coming away with all three points.
Ghana’s game against Senegal in Mongomo was filled with high drama, but was also an important didactic experience. It is a relatively unusual concept for a team to play with a back three on the continent (Egypt under Hassan Shehata the obvious exception), but in Mongomo, both teams set up with three centre-backs.
There were different motivations though. Alain Giresse has been at the helm of Senegal since 2013, and has slew of powerful defenders to choose from. However, none of his striking options have enough variety in their game to play as a lone forward, especially as the Teranga Lions have no true creator in midfield.
Hence, his 3-5-2 allows Senegal retain numbers in the middle while fielding two strikers.
Avram Grant, on the other hand, assumed the Ghana post a month ago, and hit on the system on the basis of strength in numbers. Regular centre-back options John Boye and Isaac Vorsah are unavailable for various reasons, and the former Chelsea boss probably considers it a risk to field only one of Mohammed Awal and Daniel Amartey alongside Jonathan Mensah.
Fitness concerns further forced their hands before the game, with Asamoah Gyan and Sadio Mane missing on either side, so both ended up lining up 3-5-1-1.
Predictably, both midfields nullified themselves, and the game became a straight duel between forwards and defenders. In the first half, the mobility of Ghana’s strikers caused Senegal’s back three no end of trouble: Jordan Ayew movement away from the defensive line opened up space for Christian Atsu to dash into.
The Everton man worked the space outside of Papy Djilobodji very intelligently, winning the penalty for the opener and latching on to another chance which he curled wide.
Atsu | Tormenting Senegal's back three
At the other end, Mame Diouf and Dame N’Doye were showing how not to play against a back three. The Black Stars sat extremely deep and marked so tightly it verged on assault, it was a miracle Awal was not booked. However, neither man showed the mobility needed to worry the Ghanaian defence, and in this sense they missed Mane sorely. The Southampton man would surely have isolated Amartey, much like Atsu was doing at the other end.
Even worse for Senegal was that neither Stephane Badji nor Pape Souare won their battle with their direct opponent. With little width, the only threat they posed was on set-pieces, and on the frequent occasions when Ghana’s lax passing at the back led to turnovers.
Giresse’s half-time switch changed the game. Realising that the positioning of Atsu was pulling his defence out of shape, he brought on right-back Lamine Gassama and switched to a back four. Stephane Badji pushed up to play on the right of the front three, with N’Doye left, and now Senegal had actual width.
Crucially, they also had numerical superiority on the flanks, and it was after some swift combination play down the left that Diouf converted a cross from N’Doye for the equaliser.
By this time, Ghana’s physical level had dropped drastically and they were under the cosh. However, Grant made no attempt to respond to new realities on the pitch, and watched his side sit deeper and deeper as the half progressed. His changes were like for like, Mubarak Wakaso and Afriyie Acquah for more energy in midfield, David Accam for more speed upfront.
Giresse’s willingness to alter the match situation ultimately proved the difference between both sides: it was his second sub, Moussa Sow, who scored the winner at the very last second.
The image of a dour-faced conservative that hangs over Grant will be reinforced by this display, and his reluctance to recognise and react to the new threat his team faced. Senegal on the other hand will take great belief from this win; they have been on the up since losing since Giresse took the reins, and this is, among other things, affirmation that they are going in the right direction.
Source goal.com