The senior national team the Black Stars were held to a pulsating 2-2 drawn game by the Pharaohs of Egypt in an international friendly played in Cairo, Wednesday. The game was replete with some controversial refereeing decisions amidst spots of protest from the stars. It was the Pharaohs who had their noses in front, 30 minutes in the first half, courtesy a thunderous strike by Mohammed Shawke which took a ricochet of the bar and an awkward bounce in-front of the goal line but was controversially awarded a goal. The goal, controversial though, was a reward for the Pharaohs who dominated the game for most part of the first half with the stars chasing their shadows. The leaking stars defence was once again breached after Eric Addo fumbled in his clearance igniting a powerful goal bound shot which was parried by Richard Kingston in post for the stars. The closest the stars came to scoring was from Prince Tagoe who was played through but shot wide with the tip of his boots. From recess the stars put up a sterling performance scoring two important goals by skipper Stephen Appiah and Prince Tagoe. Appiah converted a penalty for the much needed equalizer after an incisive cross from John Paintsil went off the hand of the Egyptian defender in the vital area. The stars took the game to the Egyptians with some telepathy from Laryea Kingston who assumed the central mid-field position, Stephen Appiah, and Anthony Annan. But a non-existent stars attack led by Junior Agogo could not translate the dominance into goal. The stars turned a sticky defensive situation into attack, and caught the Egyptian defence pants down, as Prince Tagoe effortlessly tapped in Ghana’s second goal. Stephen Appiah had earlier dazzled his way into the goal area shot with his weaker left foot but was parried by the Egyptian goalkeeper only to Prince Tagoe, who slotted it in. Just when the stars were cruising to a famous victory, the leaking defense once slept on the job giving room for Mohammed Moteb to earn a crucial equalizer for the Pharaohs late in the second half. The match formed good preparation for both teams as Coaches Milovan Rajevan (Ghana) and Hasan Shehata (Egypt) had the opportunity to assess some of their charges ahead of the joint world and nations cup qualifiers which begin in March. Goalkeeper Richard Kingston Defenders John Paintsil, Jonathan Quartey, Eric Addo, Nana Akwasi Asare. Mid-Fielders Laryea Kingston, Anthony Annan, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari. Attackers Junior Agogo, Prince Tagoe. Story by Nathan Gadugah