Star Premier League Results 23rd week

Thriller in Kumasi as Hasaacas battle with Kotoko for 3-3
A 78th minute penalty enabled Kumasi Asante Kotoko to draw 3-3 with Sekondi Hasaacas in their match played over the weekend which has pushed Kotoko further away from their title dream this season.

Trailing 1-2 at half time, Hasaacas came back from recess to score two goals in the 57th and 67th minutes respectively.

The equalizer came from Ebow Mensah who had an easier task of pushing the ball into the net after goalkeeper Osei Boateng had fumbled the ball to slip through his hands for Mensah, who was lurking around, to slot it home.

Hasaacas's third goal came through a free-kick taken just outside the Kotoko penalty box by Emmanuel Okyere. Kotoko then raised the hopes of their supporters to carry the day at home after their shocking 2-0 home defeat by Okwahu United two weeks ago.

Joe Okyere caught goalkeeper George Owu on the wrong foot in the eighth minute when his long shot almost from the centre line, beat the goalkeeper

Then in the 21st minute, Michael Osei pushed Nana Frimpong's rebound into the net after he (Nana Frimpong) had headed over the bar in the 14th minute.

After the two goals, Hasaacas pulled out Paul Mensah for Salu Muntari just after Kotoko's second goal while Richard Ladzekpo was booked in the 41st minute.

The change paid off for the visitors as they pulled one back in the 44th minute through Frank Turkson who caught goalkeeper Osei Boateng napping with a low drive from outside the penalty box.

Hasaacas followed the equaliser up with a brilliant free-kick in the 67th minute by Emmanuel Okyere which sailed into the left hand corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper Osei Boateng, stranded.

With defeat staring them in the face, Kotoko threw everything into the game and Stephen Oduro who moved anxiously into the Hasaacas goal area was brought down for the resultant penalty kick which was converted by substitute Abedi Sarfo.

Hearts down K’bibirem

Hearts’ danger man, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, took an early lead for his side when he broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a powerful right-footed shot just outside the 18-yard box, that beat goalkeeper Theodore Atsu.

Earlier, Hearts had missed very good chances, which could have put them ahead in the third, 12th and 22nd minutes. In the third minute, Don Bortey's 25-metre shot from a free kick was parried over the crossbar by goalkeeper Atsu. He again brilliantly saved Emmanuel Adjogu's direct header to prevent Hearts from taking the lead in the 12th minute

Four minutes later, a deadly shot from the boot of Kuffour, which was heading into the visitors goal hit the chest of defender Victor Antwi to relieve them from danger. Antwi was later stretchered off and revived by the red-cross officials.

In the first quarter of the second half, Hearts kept piling on pressure on Kwaebibirem but missed another vital chance in the 55th minute when Ishmael Addo shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Atsu.

However, Kuffour, who remained the hero of the day, added his double in the 63rd minute when he patiently slotted home a rebound from Amankwah Mireku's kick that landed in front of him in the Kwaebibirem vital area.

Kwaebibirem, in spite of the defeat struggled for, at least, a consolation but they could not utilise the few chances that came their way.

Striker Adu Gyamfi, who had a good opportunity to reduce the tally for his side in the 75th minute shot wide with only Hearts' goalkeeper Laud Quartey in the post to beat.

Faisal Hold RTU

The homesters opened the score in the 32nd minute through enterprising Abass Iddrisu after he cut through the defence of the visitors to chip in the ball at the blind side of goalkeeper Opoku Ware and to the surprise of the King Faisal players.

The visitors who looked desperate, came back from the recess with a lot of determination to carry the day as manifested in their domination of the entire midfield and daring moves upfront.

Their efforts finally paid off in the 75th minute when Joseph Agyeman held the park spellbound with a thunder of a shot that pierced the defence of the “pride of the North” for an equaliser that gave a lot of relief to the management of King Faisal.

Adansiman dished Goldfields

A 51st minute goal scored by Alhassan Awudu gave Adansiman a 1-0 victory over their local rivals, Goldfields in their Star Premier League match at the Len Clay Stadium on Sunday.

The two teams, against the speculations that they were going to play it soft, put up an excellent performance to the admiration of soccer fans. After a scoreless first half, Adansiman resumed the second half much more determined and won the day with the 51st minute goal through Awudu who beat keeper Mike Robertson with a volley.

Olympics survive against Liberty to maintain run

The draw, which ensured Olympics maintain their unbeaten run since the start of the second phase of the league came at a high cost, as substitute Jonathan Abieku, who had come on in the 41st minute fell awkwardly, after a midair collusion and was unconscious for some time before being revived. Abeiku could not continue play and Olympics had to play the entire second half at a disadvantage.

Olympics had exhausted their substitution earlier in the game by bringing on George Essilfie and Dennis Odoom for injured Philip Kutsu and David Amoako respectively before Abeiku's injury.

It was Liberty who kicked off and immediately took the game to Olympics, creating two early chances in the sixth and 15th minutes, which they wasted. Urged on by their fans, Olympics resorted to very robust tackles to contain the slippery Liberty midfield led by David Boateng and that earned Numo Mohammed the first caution in the 29th minute. But the referee could not stamp his authority on the game as the dangerous tackles kept flying in from both teams.

Olympics came out worse from the rough play as their players took the heavy brunt of the knocks, compelling them to exhaust their substitutions before the end of the first half. The 'Wonder Club' was forced to re-strategise for the second half, and they played a more defensive game leaving only one player, Fatau Barnes on top of the attack and packed their men in defence.

But in the 50th minute Olympics nearly took the lead, but the vigilance of Cudjoe Addo in post for Liberty denied them when the goalie stretched to punch out a diving header from Francis Martey.

From the hour mark the match became a one-way traffic towards the Olympics goal area but the defence of Essilfie and Mohammed remained resolute and warded off the attack from Liberty.

In another match played on Friday at the same venue, Tema Ghapoha beat Okwawu United by a lone goal. Amui Quaye scored the only goal in the 54th minute when he connected a cross from skipper Alex Awauh.