Zaytuna pip Arsenal

Accra, March 16, GNA - Premiership debutantes, Zaytuna United ended the first round of the Onetouch Premier League on a good note after managing a lone goal victory over Berekum Arsenal in their Week 15 clash at the El-Wak Stadium on Sunday. Substitute Abubakar Yusif netted the winner in the 57th minute with a spectacular shot from his favourite left foot struck around the edge of the visitors' penalty area, beating goalkeeper Issahaku Shaibu in post.

Prior to that, Zaytuna had stayed on top during the first half with several incursions and a wasted penalty in the 32nd minute after Arsenal defender Mutalabi Mohammed handled the ball in the vital area. Striker Felix Baffoe, voted the most valuable player of the game had his kick from the spot saved by Arsenal goalie Shaibu, to the disappointed of the handful of Zaytuna fans present. Before that, Baffoe was the architect of two unsuccessful attempts to break the deadlock, in the 27th and 31st minutes, but Nicholas Coffie's headers were no threat to goalkeeper Shaibu on both occasions. Zaytuna's Lebanese trainer, Fadi Oumar introduced Yusif for Christian Essel eight minutes into the second, and it paid off four minutes later, as the new entrant blasted home the match winner with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area after being fed by George Ankamah.

Arsenal thence had the upper-hand but they lacked the cutting edge upfront. Substitute Francis Aggrey came closest but his thunderbolt seven minutes from time went wide. Two minutes to full time, Arsenal's hope of grabbing at least a point fizzled out after Kumasi-based Class One referee Osei Nsiah ignored their plea for a penalty after Mboma was fouled in the area.