02.06.2015 12:16 h

Ghana surprise Argentina at U-20 World Cup

Ghana stunned favourites Argentina 3-2 at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Tuesday, with Ukraine demolishing Myanmar 6-0 and USA advancing to leave hosts New Zealand facing an early exit.

Six-time champions Argentina, already reeling after a 2-2 draw with unfancied Panama, were 3-0 down and looked completely outclassed before a late fightback.

They face a real chance of elimination in the group stages for the first time since 1991 if they cannot win their final Group B match against Austria, who downed an ill-disciplined Panama 2-1.

In Group A, the United States became the first team to reach the knockout stages with a 4-0 victory over New Zealand, while Ukraine unleashed a second-half blitz against Myanmar.

But it was 2009 champions Ghana who made a statement, hustling the highly-rated Argentinians and pulling apart their defence with pace and clever passing.

The Africans led 1-0 at half time thanks to lanky striker Benjamin Tetteh's clinical finish on the edge of the box.

But they could have been up by five except for a string of saves from Argentinian goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, rumoured to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.

A counterattacking goal to Clifford Aboagye and a Yaw Yeboah appeared to have sealed the fixure until Giovanni Simeone put Argentinian on the scoresheet in the 80th minute.

The shellshocked Argentinians finally came to life, hitting overdrive after Emiliano Buendia's effort in the 90th minute set up a tense eight minutes of extra time.

Elsewhere in Group B, Panama made a bright start against Austria thanks to a piece of brilliance from Fidel Escobar in the 38th minute.

Escobar took off deep within his own half, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake after a crisp one-two with Jesus Gonzalez, then fired home from the edge of the box.

But Austria took control with goals either side of half-time, the first when Panama skipper Chin Hormechea deflected Martin Rasner's free kick in and the second a Valentin Grubeck header.

Panama's wretched night continued with two players sent off in two minutes late in the game, as Hormechea received a second yellow and defender Lius Pereira straight red for a diving handball on the line.

Ukraine notched their biggest ever win at the tournament after labouring in a goalless first half against tournament debutants Myanmar.

They exposed the newcomers' defensive naivety in the second when Roman Chukkar caught his markers napping in the 51st minute to head past keeper Myo Min Latt.

It opened the floodgates, as substitute Valerii Luchkevych broke down the right flank and lobbed Latt, then Viktor Kovalenko added another to make it three in six minutes.

Eduard Sobol's long range shot and Artem Biesiedin's neatly taken effort took it to 5-0 before Myanmar defender Thiha Htet Aung was red-carded for a handball on the line.

Pavlo Polehenko missed the subsequent penalty but Kovalenko completed the rout with his second after latching onto Biesiedin's pin-point pass from out wide.

However, USA still top Group A after Rubio Rubin's brace helped the Americans brush aside New Zealand, with Emerson Hyndman and Paul Arriola also contributing.

"As a nation we normally don't progress so quickly, so we are obviously very happy about that," coach Tab Ramos said after his side qualified with a game to spare.