GRi Sports 31 - 10 - 2002
League Action Reports for Week 27
Kotoko
stumbles at Prestea
Maxbees, Arsenals draw at Koforidua
Hearts close to sixth straight title
Kotoko stumbles at Prestea
Prestea (Western
Region) 31 October 2002 – Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s hopes of annexing the Premier
League title this year was cut slim on Wednesday when Prestea Mine Stars showed
them no respect in a 1-1 drawn game. Kotoko dropped two valuable points by that
to have the gap between them and leaders Accra Hearts of widened to six, with
three more matches to go.
Mines Stars drew the
first blood in the 59th minute of the second half with a superb goal
by David Osei Tutu after they had taken Kotoko by storm and matched them boot
for boot in the first 45 minutes.
The fabulous boys
found the going very tough as they apparently underrated their opponents and
were not expecting such a dying fight from the miners. Kotoko, after the goal,
surged forward firing on all cylinders and found the equaliser in the 68th
minute through nimble footed Michael Osei. Both sides fought relentlessly for
the winning goal which never came until the end of the game.
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Maxbees, Arsenals draw at Koforidua
In Koforidua, Berekum
Arsenals held Suhum Maxbees to a 2-2 draw in their Premier league match. Though
the Brekum boys outclassed the homesteads in all aspects of the game and one
was expecting a goal harvest, poor shooting upfront made them to waste all the
chances that came their way.
Arsenals took the lead
in the 15th minute through their right-out, Robert Mensah but Maxbees pulled the equaliser three
minutes later through a penalty when their centre forward Masawudu Mumuni was
brought down in the box by Arsenals'
defender Joseph Boakye. Masawudu who elected himself to take the kick put the
ball at the blind side of the goal-keeper to make things even for his side.
Maxbees who were
inspired by the goal soaked the pressure from the Berekum boys and only
periodically made incursions into their goal area. In one of such counter
attacks, Masawudu took advantage of a defensive blunder of Arsenals picked a
ball floated into the Arsenals goal area and beat their on-rushing keeper
Justice Quaicoo before tapping the ball into an empty net for the second goal
of his side.
After recess, Arsenals
put on more pressure and in the 52nd minute their inside right Osei
Kofi blastered a non drop shot into the post for the equaliser after a
cornerkick. After the equaliser, the Berekum boys put more pressure on their
opponents but wasted all the chances that came their way till the final whistle
of the match. Due to an intermittent rains during the match, only few
spectators were on the field to watch the match.
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Hearts close to sixth straight title
Accra (Greater Accra)
31 October 2002 - Accra Hearts of Oak’s promise to adorn GFA General Secretary
Kofi Nsiah with a sixth league title is close to fruition with their apparent
win of the 2002 Premier League.
Hearts, at the Accra
Sports Stadium on Wednesday, stretched their lead atop the Premier league with
a 2-1 disposition of stubborn Okwawu United 2-1 at a time that their bitterest
rivals Kotoko drew 1-1 at Prestea.
The Phobians now lead
with six-point difference and look a more plausible side to annex the title for
a record six consecutive times. Hearts’ ‘bad boy’ Laryea Kingston was the
redeemer as he fetched his side’s two crucial goals by which they claimed the
three points at stake. Kingston has had a rugged season as he faced a barrage
of suspensions in the premiership from indisciplined behaviours.
The three-week recess,
surprisingly did not affect the output of both teams who right from kick off,
contested all the 50-50 balls in earnest. However, it was Hearts attack, made
of tormentor-in-chief, Charles Taylor, Don Bortey and Wisdom Abbey who looked
more purposeful at goal. Kingston delivered a left footer shot into the roof of
the net in the 21st minute after his first attempt was blocked.
Okwawu hardly
threatened the goal area of Hearts except a few incursions by top marksman,
Osei Bonsu. He however incurred the
displeasure of referee Emmanuel Kwame Twumasi in the 25th minute after he had
intentionally hit skipper Joe Ansah in the face and was subsequently shown the
yellow card.
Taylor failed to
convert two glorious chances for his side when in the 42nd minute he
wasted a Wisdom Abbey through pass and seven minutes later, blew away a
‘me-and-you’ opportunity.
Kingston made it two
in the 56th minute when goalkeeper Fatua Duada punched a Don Bortey's free kick
and Kinsgton ramed the ball into the net. Daniel Baba Yara pulled one back for
Okwawu from a spot kick on the stroke of full time.
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