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The İstanbul Başakşehir centre-back won all his aerial duels and made five clearances as Ghana’s five-man defence frustrated England’s attack in Boston.
Jerome Opoku was a standout performer in Ghana’s resilient defensive line, earning an exceptional 7.6 match rating as the Black Stars held England to a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium in Boston.
Playing on the left side of a compact five-man defence, the İstanbul Başakşehir centre-back logged a full 90-minute shift, making five clearances, one defensive block, and one interception. He won both of his aerial duels and four of five ground duels, showcasing his physical dominance against England’s attacking threats.
Key Takeaways
- Jerome Opoku was a standout performer in Ghana's resilient defensive line, earning an exceptional 7.6 match rating as the Black Stars held England to a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium in Boston.
- Playing on the left side of a compact five-man defence, the İstanbul Başakşehir centre-back logged a full 90-minute shift, making five clearances, one defensive block, and one interception.
- Opoku used his 6'4" frame exceptionally well to weather England's crossing pressure, winning 100 percent of his aerial battles and registering a crucial first-half clearance from a driving Noni Madueke corner kick.
Opoku used his 6’4″ frame exceptionally well to weather England’s crossing pressure, winning 100 percent of his aerial battles and registering a crucial first-half clearance from a driving Noni Madueke corner kick. He completed 11 of 15 passes for a 73 percent accuracy rate and was fouled three times while committing just one foul.
Under Carlos Queiroz’s disciplined 5-4-1 defensive structure, Opoku linked seamlessly with fellow centre-backs Jonas Adjetey and Gideon Mensah, forcing England to search for spaces on the periphery despite their staggering 79 percent possession dominance.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Opoku’s performance was instrumental in ensuring England managed only three shots on target despite registering 19 total attempts. The result keeps Ghana’s knockout hopes alive heading into the final matchday against Croatia.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 23, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
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