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Ghana thought they would fly to Washington on Wednesday with a victory finally under their belts, England soon in their sights. After five straight friendly defeats since qualifying for the World Cup last October, they had to settle for a draw in Carlos Queiroz’s first game in charge after Lewis Koumas’s stoppage-time equaliser.Presumably Thomas Tuchel, five hours behind Cardiff in time-zone, hunkered down somewhere in West Palm Beach to watch England’s second Group L opponents this summer. If Tuchel had the sound on, he wouldn’t have needed to listen too hard to hear the Ghana supporters present delight in Caleb Yirenkyi’s second-half opener, but they were denied victory.From a Wales perspective, Yirenkyi’s strike was an ugly goal, Dylan Lawlor cheaply losing the ball on halfway and the rest of the back line slowly retreating before the 20-year-old Yirenkyi eventually applied the finish. Craig Bellamy insisted this game was anything but a winding-down experience but it was hard to think otherwise after a lukewarm display. Koumas headed in from Neco Williams’ inviting cross to deny Queiroz the dream platform for the summer.For the noisy Ghanaian contingent that tried to turn this game into something of an occasion – only Wales’s second against African opponents and the first since a 4-0 defeat in Tunisia in 1998 – there was little to whet the appetite for when the real thing begins against Panama on 18 June. For Queiroz, though, this was a significant contest, this not only his first game in the job after succeeding Otto Addo, but potentially his last before their Group L opener. Ghana may yet organise another friendly on arrival in Washington, where they will have a week-long training camp before heading to their Boston base.The buildup to the game was far from ideal for Queiroz, whose squad arrived in dribs and drabs. Ghana’s first training session as a full squad was on Monday, 24 hours before facing Wales, for whom this was part of the healing process since the agony of the playoff defeat to Bosnia in March. Antoine Semenyo, surely the Black Stars’ brightest star, was one of the last players to report for duty last weekend, his first main action as part of the group at a mini golf teambuilding session on Sunday morning and the Manchester City forward began on the bench here, alongside Athletic’s Iñaki Williams, another late arrival, and the Coventry forward Brandon Thomas-Asante, who entered at half-time.Queiroz said he had no qualms over naming Thomas Partey in his 26-man squad for the summer, with the midfielder now of Villarreal due to stand trial next year. Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. Queiroz handed the former Arsenal midfielder a start at the base of midfield and, in truth, if this was not a friendly Partey may have seen red before the interval. The 32-year-old was booked for a foul on Dan James, who twice hit the woodwork in the first half, but escaped further punishment after scything down an advancing David Brooks on the edge of the area. Unsurprisingly, Partey was withdrawn at the interval, brought off before being sent off?The first action of note saw the Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who plays for Swiss club St Gallen, make a sprawling save to push James’s effort on to a post and a couple of minutes later the Leeds winger cracked a shot against the crossbar. Abdul Fatawu and Jordan Ayew, both of whom tasted relegation to League One with Leicester this season, formed part of Ghana’s attack alongside the former Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana. Ayew passed up the first half’s best opportunity, allowing Karl Darlow to smother the ball after seizing on a poor pass by the Wales goalkeeper.Ghana made a quadruple change at half-time, including a change in goal, with Benjamin Asare replacing Ati-Zigi. Wales introduced a trio of substitutes on the hour, including a debut for the Swansea forward Cameron Congreve, who spent last season on loan at Dundee. A raft of changes only exacerbated the exhibition nature of this game, the Ghana defender Gideon Mensah almost scoring an own goal when inadvertently putting the ball beyond his own goal.For the 2,000 or so Ghana supporters, soon after arrived the undeniable moment of the match. It was midway through the second half when the substitutes Yirenkyi and Ernest Nuamah, of Lyon, combined, culminating in the former scoring from close range. Nuamah charged at Joe Rodon and sent a shot at Darlow. At first the Nordsjælland midfielder Yirenkyi rattled a post but he promptly beat Williams to the rebound to turn up the volume in the away end.

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In the early stages, Scotland looked to be opting for something different. That is, heading to a major tournament while completely unburdened by expectation. Little Curaçao were embarrassing Steve Clarke and his team. Scottish Football Association big wigs, who handed Clarke a four-year deal in recent days, were shuffling uncomfortably in the plush seats. Excitement was surely raising in Haiti, Scotland’s first World Cup opponents.That Scotland played against 10 men for more than a half must be factored in to analysis of their recovery. Nonetheless, the response was stirring enough to raise optimism among a supporter base who will shortly grace a World Cup for the first time in 28 years. The Tartan Army remained in place to afford Scotland a rousing send-off for the United States. Victory had ultimately proved as comfortable as should have been the case.Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney, Lewis Ferguson and Ché Adams were notable absentees having only joined up with the squad on Friday. The manager hinted at things to come, especially against Haiti, with the deployment of two strikers. George Hirst joined Lawrence Shankland in attack. The 43-year-old Craig Gordon started ahead of Angus Gunn in goal. Gordon’s international career had appeared over in 2024 as he missed out on the European Championship.There was method in this choice of game for Scotland beyond the expectation (but only that) of victory before a flight to the United States. Curaçao and Haiti are one place apart in the world rankings.The start to the game had been as timid as one could expect from a May friendly until Tahith Chong sent the lively band of Curacao supporters into raptures. Andy Robertson had flashed a ninth-minute drive wide but Scotland were otherwise impotent. Chong punished that, stunning Hampden in the process.The Sheffield United midfielder collected the ball on the halfway line with a majestic first touch which bamboozled Scott McKenna. Next, Chong strode away from McKenna’s central defensive partner John Souttar. In scoring what should rank among the most memorable goals ever scored at this famous old venue, Chong wrong-footed Gordon when inside the penalty area and slammed home. It would be an exaggeration to suggest Curaçao deserved their lead yet Scotland’s ragged approach so close to a major tournament was worthy of punishment. Hirst sought to raise the mood with a header that Eloy Room scrambled away. The natives were restless; audible booing met the first drinks break of the afternoon.Controversy arrived before the break. Jürgen Locadia crazily planted an elbow into the face of Aaron Hickey after the Brentford full-back had cleared the ball. After being urged to take a second look by the video assistant referee, Goga Kikacheishvili correctly issued a red card. Whether Clarke would have chosen to play against 10 men in this context is open to debate.What is undeniable is Scotland did not want what happened next. Billy Gilmour collapsed in a heap after injuring his right knee when playing a routine pass. Gilmour’s demeanour as he left the field inferred his World Cup dream must be in doubt. Ominously, he did not join his team-mates for their post-game lap of honour.This had proved about as grim an opening half as Clarke could have imagined until Findlay Curtis, who replaced Gilmour, drew the hosts level. Curtis swivelled and shot having collected Kenny McLean’s deflected pass.A raft of half-time substitutions included an international debut for Tyler Fletcher, son of former Scotland captain Darren. The midfielder had not been named in the squad, instead one of a number of young players brought in to boost training numbers, with Clarke’s decision to introduce him here therefore intriguing. Fletcher is known to have impressed during sessions in the lead-up to Curaçao.A smart corner routine nudged Scotland in front. Ryan Christie’s eventual cross to the front post was met by Shankland. The 30-year-old notched his fifth Scotland goal with a first-time finish, which Room should have dealt with. Shankland may be lightly raced on the international front but remains Scotland’s most lethal finisher.Shankland was to prove that with just under half an hour to play. This time, the striker – who will join Rangers when the transfer window opens – strode onto a Lyndon Dykes’ lay off and fired beyond Room. Curaçao’s race was run.Shankland was denied the opportunity to complete a hat-trick from the penalty spot, having already been replaced by the time Juriën Gaari wiped out the lively Curtis. Ryan Christie assumed penalty duties, the Bournemouth man sending Room the wrong way. Next stop, the grandest stage of all.