The Black Starlets of Ghana faced a tough challenge in their opening match at the UEFA International Tournament, as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Russian U-16 team in Zenit, Russia on Wednesday.
The Russian team came out strong, showcasing their dominance in the midfield and making it difficult for the Black Starlets to maintain possession.
Midfielder Vadim Shilov set the tone early by scoring in the 4th minute at the Zenit Stadium in Volgograd.
The host team continued to pile on the pressure, with forward Daniil Kiselev converting a penalty in the 31st minute to double their lead.
Defender Zakhar Chushkin extended the lead even further just three minutes later, putting the Russian team up 3-0.
However, the Ghanaian team did not give up and showed great resilience in the second half. Their efforts paid off when Ofori scored a consolation goal in the 65th minute.
Looking ahead, Coach Laryea Kingston and his team are using this tournament as a platform to evaluate their readiness for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U-17 tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Accra next month.
Despite the defeat, the Black Starlets will look to regroup and bounce back in their next match as they aim to make an impact in the prestigious tournament.
