World Cup: Ghana crush South Korea 4-0 in Miami in final tuneup before USMNT showdown

If Ghana can afford to leave a player who ultimately scores a hat trick on the bench to start a game, they must certainly have plenty of attacking firepower.


Jordan Ayew, who came off the bench very early in Ghana's tune-up against South Korea at SunLife Stadium on Monday, was the headliner on the night as he scored three goals in a 4-0 rout between World Cup-bound teams.


Dynamic young attacker Majeed Waris was involved in a challenge with Ki Sung-Yeung very early in the game, was helped off the field due to an apparent injury and left the game in the 6th minute, with Jordan Ayew replacing him. Waris walked straight to the locker room after exiting the match.


Ayew opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he finished brother Andre Ayew's pass in the box. The shot deflected off Ki on its way to goal.


South Korea were unlucky not to tie the match in the 40th minute when Son Heung-Min cranked a shot that went off the post. A minute later, Kwak Tae-Hwi scored with his arm, but that, coupled with a bruising collision with Ghanaian goalkeeper Fatau Dauda, meant the tally was called back.


Asamoah Gyan doubled Ghana’s lead just before halftime, as he won the ball in midfield from Kwak, dribbled upfield with the ball, and finished it easily past South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong.


Jordan Ayew notched his second of the game in the 53rd minute when he calmly ran onto a pass and shot from just outside the box under little pressure to beat Jung once more.


He completed his hat trick in the 89th minute when he poked home Albert Adomah's cross from very close range.


Ghana will open up Group G play next Monday, June 16, against the US national team, while South Korea will begin their Group H slate a day later against Russia.