Michael Essien is?captain for the Ghana?Black Stars in this?friendly clash with the?Netherlands?in?Rotterdam.
Welcome to the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam where the Netherlands are playing hosts to Ghana in an international friendly to prepare both sides ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Remember both sides played each other in a warm up game before the last World Cup in South Africa.
Michael Essien is leading the Black Stars out from the tunnel as is Robin Van Persie to the packed crowd here in Rotterdam.
The team is being greeted by massive cheers as they enter the pitch to do action.
National anthems now being played, Ghana first followed by hosts Netherlands.
Anthems over, teams exchanging pleasantries.
1? Ghana in all-white kicks us off from left to write in commentary position.
2? The Black Stars controlling the game in their own half, yet to make an incursion upfront.
3? Ghana with an opening throw after sustained possession. The Netherlands however gain possession but Essien fouls?De Jong.
5? The Netherlands score with their first real attack. Captain Van Persie with the finishing after a?Wesley Sneijder?cut-back.
6? Ghana regroup and with possession now but are not looking threatening.
7??Jordan Ayew?comes deep to collect and releases quickly to Essien. Ghana still with possession but in their own half.
8? Ball back to?Adam Kwarasey?to start another attack but the Black Stars ose the ball in a dangerous position but they regain.
9? The Black Stars trying to develop a pattern of play but they remain predominantly in their own half.
10? Ghana with a free kick about 35 yards from goal.
11? Ball floated in but?Jerry Akaminko?s header is way off target.
12? Another fluid attack from the Dutch but?Arjen Robben?misses from four yards. A shocking miss!
13? Kwadkwo Asamoah trying to engineer something on the far side but Ghana lose possession. Throw-in quickly effected to the Netherlands but?Rashid Sumailaemerges with the ball from defence.
14? The Netherlands now beginning to get their short-passing game going. Black Stars coil into their own half to defend.
15? The Dutch in full control of the game now. Rashid Sumaila rushes in with a tackle on Arjen Robben. He is least pleased as he doesn?t want to sustain an injury before the World Cup. Tempers cool down for the game to resume.
18? Ghana trying to tease out the Dutch.?Albert Adomah?with a delightful cross bitKwadwo Asamoah?is unable to reach it.
19? Corner kick to?Holland?as Rashid Sumaila cuts off a cross. Adam Kwarasey comes out to coolly grab and quickly launches an attack but?Vlaar?fouls Jordan Ayew.
20? Ghana back with the ball but Asamoah is dispossessed. He feeld he should have been given a foul but referee is having none of it.
21? The Black Stars trying to build from the back. Coach?Kwesi Appiah?is out to issue instructions.
23? Arjen Robben is played into an unguarded space but Kwarasey comes out quickly to salvage the situation. The Black Stars defence must surely improve.
24? Rabiu Mohammed was slow on that occasion and loses the ball.
25? The Dutch in cruise control as they string the passes together with ease.
26? Rashid Sumaila clears on the second attempt with Robben breathing down his neck.
27? Ghana has barely threatened the goal area of the Dutch. Yet to record a shot on goal.
28? Good pressure from the Dutch to regain possession but the Black Stars take back, Play is called back as Adomah is flagged offside.
29? Nice chest control by Rashid Sumaila but Adomah couldn?t bring the ling pass down. Throw-in to the Netherlands.
31? Play halted with Martins Idi needing medical attention.
32? Free kick to the Netherlands as Atsu was adjudged to be backing into his opponent for an aerial ball.
33? Martins Idi returns to the pitch amidst a huge round of applause.
34? The Dutch forced all the way back deep into their half, good pressing by the Black Stars.
35? Senijder drives in a free kick but the ball is cleared with a touring header.
36? Ghana trying to build from the back but the build up play is slow. Confirmation of a yellow card to Ghana striker Jordan Ayew for the challenge on Martins Idi.
37? Ball had to be put into touch with Van Persie hobbling.
39? Ghana doing a lot of pressing as the half grinds to an end.
40? The Netherlands carving out the Black Stars with their neat passing game. But Jerry Akaminko clears on that occasion.
41? Netherlands with another swift attack, but Adomah tracks back well to clear the danger.
42? Essien?s pass couldn?t reach Adomah as the Dutch take possession. Neat play between Adomah and Jordan Ayew but his cross has been cut out.
43? Schlupp lays down a disappointing lose pass to end the prospective Ghana attack.
44? Adomah whips in a cross but it is behind Jordan Ayew.
45? Adomah latches on a good pass from Essien but his final delivery was poor. Great save by Adam Kwarasey to deny Arjen Robben once more again.
45+1? Referee blasts his whistle to end the first half.
The Players are coming out for the second half. It appears Michael Essien will not be coming back on as he is stripped into the substitute?s kit.?Afriyie Acquah?comes on perhaps for Essien.
Kevin-Prince Boateng?also comes on for?Christian Atsu?as the captain?s armband moves to Kwadwo Asamoah.
45? The Dutch resume the second half.
46? Akaminko dummies and clears his line. Ball back to the Netherlands with Akaminko impeding Robben in a dangerous position.
48? Sneijder takes the free kick but misses by inches.
49? Martins Idi snapping on the heels of Kevin-Prince Boateng who wins a foul.
50??Ghana wins a throw-in. The match going through a stale phase.
51? The Dutch keeping the ball well, working the spaces but Schlupp steps in to help out with defensive duties.
52? Ghana struggling to clear their lines, they finally do but the ball is coming right back at them.
53? Ghana wins a corner kick.
54? Ghana controlling the game and looking threatening but not enough to hurt the Dutch.
55? Abdul Majeed Waris coming off for Jordan Ayew who is clutching his hip.
56? Robben stretches to have a touch on a Sneijder curler but the ball travels away agonizingly.
57? The Dutch trying to tease out the Black Stars as Van Persie takes a shot but it is charged down by Rashid Sumaila.
59? Afriyie Acquah loses the ball and gives the Dutch room to counter but Kwarasey charges out to clear the threatening cross.
61? Andre Ayew waiting in the wings to come on.
63? Andre Ayew comes on for Rabiu Mohammed.
65? The Black Stars looking a bit more threatening and more assured at the back.
66? Kevin-Prince Boateng tries a curler but it?s off target. The Black Stars getting closer and closer.
67? The Dutch move into attack bit Vsn Persie is caught offside.
68? Harrison Afful comes on for Jeffrey Schlupp.
69??Ghana struggling to penetrate despite bossing the game in this period.
70? Ghana building from the back.
71? De Guzman wins a corner off Jerry Akaminko.
73? Ghana controlling proceedings. Harrison Afful wins a foul.
74? Van persie comes off for Memphis Depay.
75? Kevin-Prince Boateng scenically pulls back Robben to concede a foul.
76? Kwadwo Asamoah tips the ball behind for a corner. Ball reaches Vlaar but unable to make the vital connection.
77? Ghana clear their lines but the Netherlands win back possession.
78? Robben tries to beat Kwarasey at the near post but the Stromsgodset shot-stopper comes up tops.
79? Harrison Afful is impeded in a good position for Ghana.
80? Boateng?s free kick is repelled by the human wall, corner to Ghana.
81? Kwadwo Asamoah with ahigh boot there as Wesley Sneijder makes way for Jermaine Lens.
82? Ghana still struggling to unlock the tight Dutch defence.
84? Rashid Sumaila win an exceptional tackle to stop a Dutch attack.
85? Five minutes left to play, can the Black Stars get the all-important equalizer?
87? Boateng almost in with a chance but the danger has been snuffed out.
88? Inkoom with a good cross to find Andre Ayew who is in space but couldn?t direct his header goal-wards.
89? Great ball to Kevin-Prince Boateng but Vlaar comes over to clear the danger.
90? Ayew with a shot but deflected on its way into the arms of Cillisen.
90+2? Jerry Akaminko stretched off the pitch. Could he be missing the World Cup?
90+4? Referee ends the game. The Ducth have won but only just.
Watch Holland’s opening goal against Ghana in pre-World Cup friendly Below
