International Friendly: Austria pulverises Ghana 5-1 in Vienna

Austria’s national team delivered a dominant performance, overwhelming Ghana with a decisive 5-1 victory in Vienna at the Erns Happel Stadion.

The match was characterised by Austria’s clinical efficiency in front of goal and their ability to exploit gaps in the Ghanaian defence.

Marcel Sabitzer gave the host an early lead through a penalty kick after Adjetey was adjudged to have handled the ball in the eighteen-yard box.

The Black Stars managed to keep the Austrians from troubling them after the goal, hence finishing the half with only a goal down.

Ghana completely collapsed in the second half as they conceded four in forty minutes.

Gregoritsch doubled the lead for the Austrians in the 51st minute. Posch scored in the 59th minute to put the game beyond Ghana.

Ghana was 3-0 down before the 60th minute. Things were getting embarrassing, but skipper Jordan Ayew pulled one back to give Ghanaians hope with 13 minutes to go in the game.

However, Chukuemeka made it 4-1 just two minutes after Ayew’s goal. With two minutes played into the extra time, Seiwald scored Austria’s fifth to condemn Ghana to an embarrassing defeat.

It was Ghana’s heaviest defeat since losing 5-0 to Saudi Arabia in 2007 in an international friendly.

The game was supposed to be a boost for the senior national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but it has rather killed the team’s spirit and Ghanaians’ confidence.

Ghana will face the much-improved Germany in the second friendly game of the March international break on Monday, 30th March, in a game where positive results will only be needed.

Ghana IX v Austria

4-4-2

Larence Ati-Zigi (GK)

Yirenkyi, Kohn, Djiku, Adjetey (DF)

Partey, Sibo, Issahaku, Semenyo (MDF)

Ayew, Adu (ST)