Hand of fate

Mukarama Adbulai continued her scoring spree by netting twice in Ghana’s 2-0 win over New Zealand at the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

She has now scored six times in three games, although her first against the Young Football Ferns, at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo yesterday, was not without controversy.

The 16-year-old striker, who has been one of the breakout stars of the tournament, appeared to control the ball with her left arm before sending a shot past New Zealand goalkeeper Anna Leat in the 61st minute of their group A match.

The handball was not picked up by referee Sara Persson and there is no video assistant referee at the tournament so the play could not be reviewed.

New Zealand coach Leon Birnie did not spot it either but said Ghana deserved their win.

‘‘I didn’t see it so I probably can’t comment,’’ he said after the match. ‘‘But we were tiring against Ghana, who were so athletic, and it was probably just a matter of time before they got a goal in. It was going to come at some stage and it came.’’

There was no doubting Abdulai’s second goal as the talented attacker fooled defender Marisa van der Meer with her speed and footwork before beating Leat at the near post.

By winning the game, Ghana have been rewarded with a slightly easier quarterfinal date with Mexico, while New Zealand will meet Japan in Colonia del Sacramento on Sunday.

‘‘It doesn’t get any easier. Japan are technically and tactically very good and they’ve shown that across all age groups for many years,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re going to have to perform to our best to get a result, but what I do know is the girls will be prepared and they’ll give everything they’ve got. We just won’t know until the end whether it is enough.’’

With both teams already through to the knockout stage, Birnie rested eight of his frontline players, with only