Ghana's Black Stars were beaten 2-1 by Sierra Leone in a friendly international played in Freetown on Saturday.

In a thrilling encounter, the Leone Stars opened the score in the 24th minute through Sweden-based Lamin Massaquoi, who was the only foreign-based player in the pitch.

Massaquoi capitalised on a defensive blunder by Owusu Ansah and unleashed a low shot that passed Sammy Adjei to register his first international goal.

But the Leone Stars only had a minute celebrate, as the Blacks Stars got an equaliser in the 25th minute.

It was the Ghana captain Charles Taylor who scored it through a 25-yard free kick, his heavy shot striking the crossbar before bouncing down into the net.

In response Sierra Leone began to take control and came close on a few occasions before restoring their lead on 36 minutes.

Captain Kemokai Kallon's free kick hit a Ghanaian defender and rolled into net after goalkeeper Sammy Adjei was only partially able to block the effort.

The second half saw many near misses from both sides, the most prominent one was that of Leone Stars' Muhahid Sesay, who beat Owusu Ansah and came face to face with Adjei but had his shot blocked.

The match was part of a week-long celebration of the first Sierra Leone-Ghana trade fair.

The Black Stars are due to play another friendly match in Freetown on Monday against a Sierra Leonean local side, East End Lions.