Ghana 4 Jamaica 1: Appiah lifts Ghana morale

Ghana stepped up their World Cup preparations with a morale-boosting victory over Jamaica here at Leicester City's ground.

The Udinese midfielder Sulley Muntari gave Ghana the lead in the sixth minute, and the Black Stars made it 2-0 in the 19th minute when Damion Stewart scored an own-goal when he deflected the captain Stephen Appiah's volley into the net. Jason Euell got one back for Jamaica in the 58th minute, but Appiah scored his second for Ghana in the 66th minute.

Two minutes later, Matthew Amoah added the final goal. The scoreline may have flattered Ghana, with two of the goals deflected efforts by Appiah, but their coach, Ratomir Dujkovic, will be pleased with his team's ruthlessness.

Ghana could not maintain their early dominance and Euell pulled one back in the 57th minute, but Ghana wrapped up the win midway through the second half with two goals in the space of three minutes. Appiah saw his shot deflected in by Claude Davis and then Amoah scored with a 68th-minute tap-in.

The Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien came in for some rough treatment from the Jamaicans, first receiving treatment following a late tackle by Shane Crawford, and he later showed his displeasure after being body-checked by Davis.

Jamaica: Crawford; Ricketts (Sawyers, 83), Da Stewart, Garfield Reid, Daley, Euell, Stephenson (Morrison, 82), Campbell-Ryce (Jermaine Johnson, 63), King (Bell 82), Shelton (Johnson, 46), Claude Davis. Substitutes not used: De Stewart, Taylor, Kerr.

Ghana: Adjei; Quaye, Mohamed, Mensah, Kuffour (Shilla, 79), Essien (Boateng, 81), Eric Addo (Sarpei, 74), Appiah (Otto Addo 84), Muntari (Dramani, 88), Gyan, Amoah (Pimpong, 81). Substitutes not used: Ahmed, Kingston, Owu, Pantsil, Pappoe, Tachie-Mensah.