Week 1: Ghana Premier League Round-up, Kotoko and Bechem United win big

A new season has begun and the battle for survival and honours have kick-started briskly with nine matches taking place across three days in the opening week of the season. As has been the norm, myactiveonline brings to you the summary of results from all match centres.

Premier League newbies Accra Lions and Elmina Sharks played the season’s opening match on Friday at the Accra Sports Stadium. Two goals were scored in the match with each side getting on the scoresheet to leave matters levelled after 90 minutes of action. Michelle Sarpong opened the scoring for Sharks in the 65th-minute thus being the first player to score in the league this season. Salifu Rauf scored the Lions first-ever Premier League goal when he levelled the scores for the home side in the 81st-minute.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko after narrowly missing out on the league glory to Accra Hearts of Oak last season was brutal against Dreams FC at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu to secure a 1-3 win. Though the Porcupine Warriors saw out the victory in Prosper Ogum’s first match in charge, it was not an easy win as they looked certain to return to Kumasi with no point until a late upturn in fortunate and masterclass saw them shock the Still Believe boys. Dreams new recruit Issahaku Fatawu opened the scoring in the 64th-minute to give Dreams the lead and it lasted until the 86th-minute when Sallifu Mudasiru equalized for Kotoko. Isaac Oppong claimed a lead for the Kotoko two minutes later before Richmond Lamptey opened his scoring for Kotoko with a goal of his own two minutes into added time to hand over a 1-3 victory for Kotoko.

Defending champions Hearts of Oak were up against city rivals Legon Cities on Saturday to begin their title defence. Samuel Boadu’s men who have dropped out of the CAF champions league after a humiliating defeat away in Morroco could not gather their firepower against Maxwell Konadu’s Royals as the match ended in a goalless draw.

Abdul Karim and Babu Musah’s red cards for Bechem United and Medeama were the only blight in the game that was one of the two highest-scoring matches in the opening week. United went two-nil up before the break thanks to goals from Emmanuel Avornyo and Francis Twene before a player each from both sides were given their matches orders on 45 minutes. Emmanuel Avornyo completed his brace on the 70th-minute before Augustine Okrah completed the demolishing for United with a minute left to play.

Bibiani Gold Stars secured the first win and on their Premier League debut after beating Berekum Chelsea 1-0. Boafo Kingsley scored the only goal of the match in the 49th-minute and the newcomers held on to see out the win.

King Faisal left it late to secure a solitary goal win over the West African Football Academy. Zubairu Ibrahim scored the only goal in the first minute of stoppage time. The match also saw Marvin Owusu red-carded for WAFA early in the second half.

Emmanuel Gyamfi and Aziz Dogo cancelled out each other for Aduana Stars and Karela United respectively to end the match on 1-1. Emmanuel Gyamfi fired the Ogya Boys into the lead three minutes past the hour mark before Aiz Dogo levelled for the Anyinase-based side eight minutes later.

Techiman Eleven Wonders were defeated by a lone goal at home against Ashanti Gold. Eric Esso scored the only goal in the match with seven minutes to end proceedings to hand out all three points to the Miners.

Premier League returnees Real Tamale United were held at home by Great Olympics to a one-all draw at the Aliu Mahama Stadium. Raymond Oko Grippman opened the scoring for the visitors two minutes to the half-hour mark and it would last until two minutes from the end of regulations time when former Ashanti Gold midfielder David Abagna equalized for the Northern Blues.

Stats

In all 17 goals were scored with 10 of them coming from home teams and seven from away teams. There were 5 wins and 4 draws with only two travelling teams securing wins. Three red cards were given in two different matches. Emmanuel Avornyo of Bechem United is leading the scoring with two goals. There were 16 different goal scorers on matchday one and only one match ended in a goalless draw with 6 teams recording clean sheets and 6 teams failing to score.

By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com