Kotoko add Hasaacas to victims
Goldfields and B.A. United share points
Bofoakwa, Arsenals match end in stalemate
Accra (Greater Accra) 07 June 2002 - The never-say-die spirit of league leaders Accra Hearts of Oak was brought to bear when the club managed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over stubborn Liberty Professionals in their match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday. Hearts had to count on all that is under their sleeves before making victory certain, with four minutes of playing time remaining. Liberty’s William Tiero had earlier shot his side ahead.
The man through whom Hearts’ victory came was burly striker Awudu Adama whose 86th minute thunderbolt sent the stadium spilling over with joy. Before Adama’s strike, Hearts had hung precariously at the brink of defeat, as their aggressive opponents threatened to cause a major upset.
A thriller, which brought the best out of the two sides, Liberty refused to be subdued by Hearts’ early promptings, which saw Osumanu Amadu blasting off target twice after Charles Taylor had put him into firing range. Liberty continued to labour at this stage as Kenneth Sarpong, Taylor and Osumanu tried to impose their rhythm on the game.
But when Liberty recovered from the pressure, they cheekily drew the first blood and striker William Tierro beat Hearts goalkeeper Sammy Adjei’s precision from a difficult angle. Midfielder Adjah Tetteh and Charles Allotey found problems covering the defensive area of Hearts each time they were compelled to add their services to the Hearts defence. In the 27th minute Ablade Morgan seized one such opportunity and squared it to Tierro who fired from an acute into the net.
With their pride wounded, Hearts instantly replied and in one of their raids, Liberty’s Issifu Ansah fouled racing Taylor for a freekick in the 32nd minute. From the edge of the box, Taylor who has already converted three of such set pieces in the season fired past a Liberty wall and beyond a stranded goalkeeper Cudjoe Addo for the equalizer in the 33rd minute, to bring his side on level and push himself to pole position on the goalking chart with seven goals.
Undaunted Liberty from then on tried a late first half onslaught, but Agyemang Duah, who was spotting the Phobian jersey for the first time since 2000 season, and Stephen Tetteh conjured some good piece of defending to end the half with a 1-1 scoreline.
Hearts brought on Dan Oppong, Awudu Adama and Frank Turkson while Liberty introduced prolific striker Papa Arko. Arko in the 85th minute dribbled Hearts goalkeeper Sammy Adjei but was unlucky in increasing his side’s tally as his well directed kick was scooped off the goal line. It was the counter-attack which Taylor managed to channel a pass to Bernard Don Bortey on the right and the player after racing into Liberty’s territory crossed unto the path of Adama to deliver the killer. Hearts, by this victory, have chalked 11 successive victories in as many matches.
GRi…/
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 06 June 2002 - Fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat the "Giants of the West", Sekondi Hasaacas 2-0 in their 11th mid-week premier league match played at the Kumasi sports stadium.
Kotoko took the lead in the 39th minute through goal-poacher Nana Frimpong when he flicked an aerial ball over on-rushing goalkeeper Seth Tabiri. Frimpong should have increased the tally four minutes later but a lazy float from him found the waiting hands of the goalkeeper after capitalising on a defensive blunder.
In the 44th minute, Kotoko's goalkeeper Osei Boateng had to struggle to save a dangerous shot from Charles Asamoah. Hasaacas again came close to equalising in the 46th minute but substitute Ephraim Mensah shot wide. Playing before their teeming supporters, Kotoko increased the tally to 2-0 in the 89th minute when Nana Arhin-Duah connected home a beautiful cross from substitute Isaac Owusu.
Hasaacas, however, entertained the crowd with beautiful passes and inter-positional display but failed to find the net as referee Solomon Yamoah of Koforidua whistled to end hostilities.
GRi…/
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 06 June 2002 - Obuasi Goldfields dropped a valuable home point as they were held to a painful one-one draw in their 11th week mid-week match by Brong Ahafo United at the Len Clay Stadium on Wednesday. The miners woefully disappointed their fans as they had to fight from a goal deficit before drawing with the visitors.
In a match was watched by sparse crowd, it was the miners who carried the game into the visitors area in the early stages of the game but failed to utilise their chances.
In the 5th minute, the homesters wasted their first cornerkick and when B.A. United managed to soak the pressure from their hosts, they turned the heat on the miners and succeeded in snatching the leader in the 27th minute through strong attacker Bawa Mohammed.
The goal presented a huge task to Goldfields who have to make amends before their pet fans having lost 2-0 nil to King Faisal at the Kumasi Sports Stadium last Sunday. Led in attack by enterprising and speedster 'Tico' Ofosu Amoah, the miners managed to record the equaliser in the 32nd minute. Ofosu Amoah rose above the defenders of the visitors and gave an airborne pass for Alfred Arthur to beat goalkeeper Isaac Amoako in posts for B.A. United.
Goldfields improved their game in the second half but wasted four cornerkicks on the trot in the 48th minute. In the 59th minute, the miners fought hard to redeem their image but two quick shots from Frank Awuah and Aminu Musah hit the posts much to the disappointment of their fans.
Goldfields maintained the pressure on the visitors but Amoako pulled two dramatic saves of Daniel Asamoah's shots in the 64th and 65th minutes while Ofosu Amoah's powerful drive in the 70th minute sailed over the bar. The miners moment of restoration came in the 78th minute when Ofosua Amoah tore the visitors defence apart and gave a through pass to Kwame Addo only for him to throw the begging chance away.
GRi…/
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In Koforidua (Eastern Region) 06 June 2002 - Power F/C suffered their second defeat on the trot when they lost 1-2 to visiting Okwawu United in their match played at Koforidua.
Last Sunday, Power suffered a 1-3 loss to Accra Great Olympics in their Premier League match played at Accra Sports Stadium. The Wednesday loss was the second home defeat suffered by Power since the beginning of this year's league season; the first being the loss to Accra Hearts of Oak who beat them 1-0.
Okwawu United who overwhelmed the Koforidua-based Power Boys, took the lead in the 19th minute through their inside left Isaac Asante. The Soccer Mountaineers who dominated the exchanges, increased their tally to two in the 60th minute through their outside right Osei Bonsu.
Power who found the going tough, put in a face-saving effort in the dying minutes of the game and this paid off when their substitute player, Justice Appiah scored a consolation goal in the 84th minute during a goal mouth melee.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 06 June 2002 - Dawu's Youngsters plight in this year's premiere league has been worsened by Accra Great Olympics when they were beaten 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium in their mid-week league match.
Olympics who, by this victory brought the smiles back on the face of their supporters, had to struggle from one goal down before coming out victorious in the match. Dawu scored in the 7th minute through Eric Mbroh as a result of a defensive mix-up between goalkeeper David Sharp and defender Philip Kutsu, which sent the whole stadium to sleep.
After Dawu had gone up in the game, Oly made some efforts to score but all their efforts proved futile. However in the 23rd minute Winfred Dormon was fouled in the penalty area by Ahmed Issah to give them a penalty, which was neatly converted by goalkeeper David Sharpe for the equaliser to end the first half with one goal apiece.
On resumption Dawu became more purposeful in attack, making dangerous incursions into Olympics area into their opponents’ area but these yielded no dividends. The half also saw more hard tackles from both sides thus forcing the referee to dish out his yellow card four times- three to Olympics and one to Dawu.
A substitution by Olympics paid off in the 80th minute when Sumaila Iddrissu's cross fell on the path of substitute Paa Joe Kuma who quickly tapped in the ball past goalkeeper Maxwell Arthur for the second goal and match winner.
GRi…/
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Bolgatanga (Upper East) 06 June 2002 - The second hat-trick of the season was registered at the Bolagatanga Sports Stadium when Joseph Adjei netted all three goals for Real Tamale United to thrash visiting Maxbees in their epic 11th week encounter. Hearts of Oak’s Charles Taylor registered the first, also against Maxbees in the ninth week.
RTU’s goals were scored in the second half. But it was Maxbees who mounted an early pressure on their hosts only to waste numerous chances that fell their way. The second half saw a new RTU who destroyed the defensive set up of their guests and rattled in their three goals in the 67th, 73rd and 89th minutes without reply.
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 06 June 2002 - A splendid display by goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan of Bofoakwa Tano's saved his team from defeat in their league match with visiting Berekum Arsenals at the Coronation Park.
Even though the match ended without a goal to either side at the end of the 90-minute of play, it was Arsenals who endeared themselves to the hearts of the sparse spectators, especially in the second half.
In fact, Mohammed Alhassan who came in for injured keeper Michael Addae in the 25th minute during a collusion with Arsenal's George Eranio, saved several goal-bound shots by Arsenals. The match which started at 3.35 pm due to the late report of Arsenals, saw Bofoakwa nearly taking the leader when the game was just one minute old, but goalkeeper Justice Quarcoo managed to parry the ball to safety. Arsenals had their chance to score in the seventh minute but George Eranio's long-range shot went over the bar.
The game then became a ding-dong battle but the greater chances fell to Arsenals who could not effectively utilise them. A similar pattern was observed for the second half which new addition was the two yellow cards that went to Bofoakwa and another to Arsenals.
GRi…/
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