GPL Round-up: Dreams held by Hearts of Oak, King Faisal beaten, Kotoko and Olympics record wins
Hello and welcome to the Ghana Premier League week 10 round-up as we present to you a summary of all the Boxing Day match results that came through over the weekend to climax week 10 of the league season. Several clubs secured wins but others including the season’s surprised title contender King Faisal Babes had a bad day in office.
Dreams FC were held to a 2-2 draw at home by defending champions Accra Hearts of Oak on matchday 10. Daniel Afriyie Barnieh shot the Phobians into the lead with a minute to the half-hour mark. Ibrahim Issah scored on the stroke of half-time to level matters for the Still Believe as they headed for the break. The Dawu-based side then took the lead following the start of the second half with a goal from Ismail Dede with barely eight minutes to play. However, Salim Adams was on hand to snatch a late equalizer for Hearts of Oak deep into injury time.
Yusuf Razak and James Akaminko combined to power Accra Great Olympics past Techiman Eleven Wonders on Sunday afternoon. Yusuf opened the scoring for the Dade Boys in the 34th-minute before Akaminko added another two minutes. Wonders could not equalize nor find a consolation before the half-time whistle and Olympics held on the secure the win by two goals.
Asante Kotoko secured a one-nil win over the West African Football Academy, WAFA at home in the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. A goal from Richmond Lamptey a minute to the hour mark was all that the Porcupine Warriors needed to push themselves back to the summit of the table with a game in hand.
Bechem United helped pushed King Faisal Babes off the top of the league table by posting a one-goal win over the Inshah Allah boys. Augustine Okrah was on hand to convert in the 80th-minute for the Hunters. The defeat pushed King Faisal to third on the standings while Bechem United are now 4th with 17 points, three short of King Faisal.
Berekum Chelsea secured a lone goal home victory over Ashantigold Sporting Club. The Blues got the only goal of the match four minutes the half-time whistle courtesy of the penalty when Stephen Badu converted after they were awarded a penalty.
Bibiani Gold Stars posted a comprehensive 3-1 win over 10-man Karela United. The premier league debutants scored in the second minute of first half added time through Prince Owusu to go into the break with the lead. Two minutes after the recess, Humfie Dafie received his matching orders, reducing Karela to ten men for nearly the entire second half.Gold Stars pouned on their numerical advantage to score the second goal two minutes after the hour mark through Charles Gyamfi but Karela got some hope of a fight back when Umar Bashiru converted from the penalty spot three minutes later. However, Gold Stars proved too strong for the Anyinase-based side by adding a third through Nuhu Sule a minute to the end of regulation time.
Medeama were also victorious against Aduana Stars at the Tarkwa Akoon Park. The Yellow and Mauve scored the solitary but all-important goal of the game in the 85th-minute through Burkinabe striker Ahmed Toure.
Accra Lions secured a 2-1 win over Real Tamale United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday afternoon. A goal each from Hagan Frimpong and Frederick Asante in the 27th and 43rd minutes respectively were enough to ensure Mohammed Sadat’s first half injury time goal counted as a mere consolation.
The last match of the round saw Legon Cities outclash Elmina Sharks to secure a 0-2 victory away from home. A goal from Nasiru Moro opened the scoring in the first half broke the virginity of the match. The Royals then waited late on to secure the sweet and important win with a goal from Augustine Dosu in the second minute of second half injury time.
The Stats
There were a total of 19 goals scored over the weekend from across nine matches. No match ended in goalless draw with the only drawn game being a 2-2 stalemate. Only one team won on the road this weekend with seven of the eight wins coming from home sides. There were three penalty goals and one player was red carded.
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
