Andy Carroll scored his first international goal, but Asamoah Gyan scored a last-minute equalizer as Ghana drew 1-1 with England at Wembley on Tuesday.
The Newcastle United forward fired in just before half-time, and England seemed to have weathered a second-half flurry when Gyan struck to earn Ghana a deserved draw.
With over 20,000 Ghanaians inside Wembley, there was a more lively atmosphere than friendlies usually generate, and that probably contributed to an open and engaging game.
"The two teams on the pitch played really well," said England manager Fabio Capello. "There were lots of tackles to win back the ball. It wasn't like a friendly game.
"It was a really, really good game. The players played without fear and with confidence."
England played a 4-3-3 as they had in beating Wales on Saturday, with Stewart Downing and Ashley Young inverted, which enhanced their goal-threat, but did little to provide crosses for Andy Carroll.
Young had both England's best two chances of the first half, seeing a curler tipped over by Richard Kingson, and then crashing James Milner's cross against the bar after a clever ball inside the full-back from Downing.
Although England dominated possession, Ghana also posed a threat, and Joe Hart thwarted Dominic Adiyiah in a one-on one, before making a superb reflex save to deny him as he met Sulley Muntari's right- wing free-kick.
The opener arrived two minutes before half-time, and went to England. Young, who claimed the assist for both goals in Cardiff, dinked a ball over a rickety Ghana offside line, Downing touched it off, and Carroll smashed in an emphatic finish.
The tempo dropped somewhat after half-time amid the usual flurry of substitutions. John Paintsil fired just over after a Muntari free- kick provoked chaos on the England box, and Gyan crashed a shot into the side-netting when well placed.
England looked to have survived, but in injury-time, Gyan turned Joleon Lescott on the edge of the box, advanced and curled a fine finish inside Hart's right-hand post.
After all the criticism of Capello's decision to rest eight players who started against Wales, the manager could take heart from the performance of his second string.
"We played some good stuff," said Downing, "especially the first half and we were a little bit unlucky at the end that they got the equalizer.
"I think it proves we've got strength in depth - they players that came in did magnificently
"Obviously after a good performance on Saturday we had to prove that we're capable of stepping in."
England remain unbeaten against African opposition, but the sense of Ghanaian progress was palpable.
The Newcastle United forward fired in just before half-time, and England seemed to have weathered a second-half flurry when Gyan struck to earn Ghana a deserved draw.
With over 20,000 Ghanaians inside Wembley, there was a more lively atmosphere than friendlies usually generate, and that probably contributed to an open and engaging game.
"The two teams on the pitch played really well," said England manager Fabio Capello. "There were lots of tackles to win back the ball. It wasn't like a friendly game.
"It was a really, really good game. The players played without fear and with confidence."
England played a 4-3-3 as they had in beating Wales on Saturday, with Stewart Downing and Ashley Young inverted, which enhanced their goal-threat, but did little to provide crosses for Andy Carroll.
Young had both England's best two chances of the first half, seeing a curler tipped over by Richard Kingson, and then crashing James Milner's cross against the bar after a clever ball inside the full-back from Downing.
Although England dominated possession, Ghana also posed a threat, and Joe Hart thwarted Dominic Adiyiah in a one-on one, before making a superb reflex save to deny him as he met Sulley Muntari's right- wing free-kick.
The opener arrived two minutes before half-time, and went to England. Young, who claimed the assist for both goals in Cardiff, dinked a ball over a rickety Ghana offside line, Downing touched it off, and Carroll smashed in an emphatic finish.
The tempo dropped somewhat after half-time amid the usual flurry of substitutions. John Paintsil fired just over after a Muntari free- kick provoked chaos on the England box, and Gyan crashed a shot into the side-netting when well placed.
England looked to have survived, but in injury-time, Gyan turned Joleon Lescott on the edge of the box, advanced and curled a fine finish inside Hart's right-hand post.
After all the criticism of Capello's decision to rest eight players who started against Wales, the manager could take heart from the performance of his second string.
"We played some good stuff," said Downing, "especially the first half and we were a little bit unlucky at the end that they got the equalizer.
"I think it proves we've got strength in depth - they players that came in did magnificently
"Obviously after a good performance on Saturday we had to prove that we're capable of stepping in."
England remain unbeaten against African opposition, but the sense of Ghanaian progress was palpable.
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