Burkina Faso 3 - 2 Ghana: Ghana Miss From The Spot In Semi-Finals

Ghana missed the chance of playing at the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 3-2 on penalties to Burkina Faso at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Wednesday. After finishing 120 minutes of an entertaining football match which ended 1-1, the game was decided through the penalty lottery as the Black Stars failed to find their spot. It was a difficult night for the Black Stars who saw striker Asamoah Gyan hit the side post and Solomon Asante miss two great chances after suffering a 6th minute injury setback to John Paintsil. Misses by Isaac Vorsah, Emmanuel Clottey and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu cost Ghana a chance of winning a fifth Nations Cup trophy. The Black Stars will now meet Mali in the third-place fixture on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Ghana took the lead through a Mubarak Wakaso finish from a penalty in the 13th minute with the attacker grabbing his fourth and third from a penalty kick at the Nations Cup. On the hour mark, the Stallions pulled a goal back through Aristide Bance after Ghana lost possession in a dangerous area. The striker shot past an advancing Fatau Dauda. With three minutes of play remaining, Jonathan Pitroipa was sent off for simulation after the Stallions dangerman dived in the Ghana box, wanting a penalty. Ghana reeled under pressure in the second half of extra time and it had to take a Afful clearance off the line to keep the scoreline at 1-1 in the 111th minute. Gyan could have sealed the day for Ghana but his close header missed goal narrowly. Ghana Line-up Against Burkina Faso: Fatau Dauda, John Paintsil(10'Solomon Asante), Harrison Afful, John Boye, Isaac Vorsah, Rabiu Mohammed(48'Derek Boateng), Christian Atsu, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Asamoah Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mubarak Wakaso(Emmanuel Clottey).