League Day 8: Midweek matches

Olympics 0 Kotoko 3
B/A United 0 Hearts 2
Berekum Arsenals 2 Goldfields 1
Hasaacas 3 Real United 0
King Faisal 1 Liberty 0
Power FC 2 Bofoakwa 2
Okwahu Utd 2 Mines Stars 0
Dawu Youngs ? Maxbees ?

Hearts silence B.A. United at Sunyani

League Champions Accra Hearts of Oak maintained their unbeaten record in this year's premier league when they added Brong-Ahafo United to their chain of victims in the eighth-week mid-week encounter at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Wednesday.
A goal in each half of the match, which was the top liner of the midweek's pairings, gave the Phobians a 2-0 victory over the national gala lords, B.A. United. The tension-packed match, which saw one of the heaviest attendances at the park in recent times had the home team exerting all their energy in the exchanges, but against the former African champions, they found things too hot to handle.
In the end it was experience that carried the day for Hearts. But if there was any player who did not find things easy throughout the 90-minute duration, it was Hearts' playmaker Charles Taylor. Taylor, who was the target of stern policing by his opponents up-front, on the few occasions that he was able to break away from his markers, disorganised the United’s defend with cheeky ease.
By 2 pm, the Coronation Park was filled to capacity and when Class One Referee Alhassan Brobbey of Mampong-Ashanti gave the nod for the match to begin, Hearts shocked the home team with a third minute goal. A pass from midfield found Charles Allotey, and without wasting time, the petit striker gave a long shot, of which goalkeeper Ransford Cudjoe had no remedy.
Sensing danger, the home team moved into attack but captain Charles Taylor and his boys would not give in. In the course of the exchanges, United's Charles Ampiah was shown the yellow card for rough play. Ishmael Fridos of United nearly levelled matters in the 12th minute but his shot narrowly missed the target.
That goal attempt gingered United up and they had the day's first cornerkick in the 13th minute but captain Alhaji Abass in an attempt to trap the ball handled it and wasted the opportunity. Striker Bernard Don Bortey registered his fourth goal in the league with an 89th minute strike, which brought the score line to 2-0 in favour of Hearts.

Kotoko thrash Oly

Kumasi Asante Kotoko strengthened their claim to the premiership title this year after eight years in limbo with an emphatic 3-0 thumping of Accra Great Olympics in their eighth week match played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In a match, which was played under a difficult rainy and windy condition, it was the visitors who mastered the soggy terrain early and scored the first goal through a Steven Oduro free kick taken from the edge of the box in the fourth minute. Kotoko dominated the early exchanges in the pouring rain and came close again in the fifth minute through newly signed Frank Osei who found himself in a scoring position but the former King Faisal goal poacher blasted the ball wide.
Olympics resurrected from the early set back with short passes in the midfield but found it difficult entering the defensive third of Kotoko. Against the run of play, Kotoko doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Osei finished off a fast break from the right as he squeezed his shot under Theodore Atsu for the second goal.
The goal did not dampen the resolve of Olympics as they kept to their passing game with exciting young prospect Joe Tagoe feeding the attack, which was rather flat and easily checked by the Kotoko defence.
On resumption, Olympics continued from where they ended the first half and pumped the ball persistently into the half of Kotoko but again failed to threaten the rock solid Kotoko defence. Osei wiped off any hope of a come back by Olympics as he scored his second of the game and third for the Fabulous boys in the 57th minute when he drilled a long-range grounder which a fully stretched Atsu could not block. Osei's goal tally is now three from two matches.
From then on it was all Kotoko as they dominated from the midfield whiles Olympics appeared to have lost their competitive urge. But Kotoko could not translate their late dominance into a cricket score as they contended themselves with entertaining the crowd. Kotoko remain second on the standings with 19 points, five points behind defending champions, Accra Hearts of Oak.

King Faisal beat Liberty at Kumasi

Alhaji Grunsah's King Faisal beat Liberty Professionals 1-0 in their premier league match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. Mercurial striker Abubakar Yahuza scored the only goal in the 66th minute with a thunderbolt shot which beat agile goalkeeper Owusu Banahene.
The first half ended in a goalless draw with Liberty dominating the exchanges. Leading goal king Papa Arko nearly found the opener for Liberty in the 16th minute but goalkeeper Samuel Okyere in Faisal post saved his shot. In the 33rd minute however, goalkeeper Banahene failed to make a first time save of a freekick taken by Yahuza and was pushed to corner with the resultant kick wasted. Richard Adjei of Faisal was replaced with Abdul Samad in the 34th minute as Ishak Debrah of Faisal was shown the yellow card in the 42nd minute for dissent.
On resumption, Faisal took full control of the game and made series of raids but could not find the net. Liberty substituted Morgan Ablade for Papa Arko and Albert Neequaye for Quartey Jonathan when the going became tough in the 76th minute. When the Tamale-based referee Roger Osabu's whistled for the end of the game, it incurred the displeasure of the Liberty boys because one of their players was close to scoring.

Arsenals shock Goldfields

Former Hearts of Oak player, George Eranio, made a great debut for Berekum Arsenals when he scored a goal while Eric Adu Poku added another to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Goldfields on Wednesday. Arsenal had to fight from a goal down in the 44th minute to clinch victory. Goldfields scored first when top striker, Frank Awuah, beat an offside trap to shoot home beautifully.
Another former Hearts star, Francis Bossman, picked a pass in the 65th minute and relayed it to Eranio to equalise with an intelligent shot. The home fans called for more goals and the players responded with some good football resulting in the winning goal in the 70th minute. It was Bossman who once again set up Adu Poku to shoot home the winner.

Hasaacas thrash RTU 3-0

Sekondi Hasaacas thrashed visiting Real Tamale United 3-0 in their eighth week Premier League match played at the Sekondi Gyandu Park on Wednesday.
Atta Yawson converted a controversial spot kick in the 63rd minute for the opener while Gariba Haruna made it two in the 82nd minute. Veteran striker John Ainoo completed the rout in the 86th minute with a perfect finish.

Power FC and Bofoakwa draw

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 24 May 2002 - Two late goals by Bofoakwa in the 86th and 90th minutes earned the visitors a hard fought 2-2 drawn game against Power FC in their re-scheduled Premiere League match played at Koforidua Sports Stadium on Thursday.

Playing with determination, Power FC took the lead in the 25th minute through Nurudeen Raja whose shot through a forest of legs sailed into the net. The homesters kept their thin lead to end of the first half. Back from recess, Power FC pile up more pressure and increased the score in the 78th minute again through Raja who exploited a defensive blunder.

The Sunyani boys lifted their game but had to wait till the 86th minute to reduce the tally when Anthony Mintah converted a penalty awarded them after he had been fouled in the box. With only two minutes left for play, Bofoakwa threw everything into the game and levelled up through Kwaku Dua formally of Kotoko, who took on the entire Power defence and succeeded in outwitting them all to score the vital equaliser.

Dawu, Maxbees split points in eighth week encounter

Dawu (Eastern Region) 24 May 2002 - Maxbees on Thursday travelled to Dawu and came out with a point when they held Dawu Youngsters to 1-1drawn game in their rescheduled eight week Premier League match on Thursday.

Maxbees gave the early indication of the determination to carry the day when they raced into a third minute goal through Masawudu Mumuni. Dawu had to struggle until the 34th minute to pull even through Baba Sule.

Maxbees who were the better team on the day came close on several occasions when they slipped past the flat Dawu defence but poor shooting skipper Mark Tontoh threw away all the chances. In the 55th and 72nd minutes for example Tontoh managed to break through the off side trap of the home team and with only the goalkeeper to beat on the two occasions shot straight into his hands.

Okwawu defeat Mine Stars

Accra (Greater Accra) 24 May 2002 - Two late goals by Osei Bonsu enabled Okwawu United to pick all the three points at stake in their eight-week Premier League match played against Prestea Mine Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday.

Playing in front of a hand-full of spectators mostly supporters of Okwawu United, both sides started on a slow note and hardly created any scoring chance in the first half. The second half witnessed an improved game as Okwawu United created some chances. In the 61st minute a shot by Bonsu heading directly into the net but surprisingly his teammate Isaac Asante deflected the ball off target.

Okwawu maintained the pressure and brought on George Tutu for ineffective Okaija Thompson who had earlier in the second half replaced Paul Amponsah. The substitution paid off in the 74th minute when Bonsu applied his head to a long throw by Asare Nyarko to open the score.

Bonsu was once again on target four minutes later after Mine Stars defender Moro Alhassan mistimed a header which fell to the scorer to deliver a powerful volley into the net.