Soccer: League Results & Report

King Faisal 1 Hearts 2
Olympics 1 Kwaebibrim 0
Dawu 2 kotoko 3
Dwarfs 1 RTU 0
Liberty 2 Bofoakwa 0
Goldfields 0 Power FC 0
Okwahu 1 Hasaacas 0
BA United 1 Ghapoha 0

Oly pip K’bibirem -By Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo

STRUGGLING Accra Great Olympics threw everything into their game with stubborn Kwaebibirem United yesterday and succeeded in repelling them with a lone goal victory at the Accra Stadium.

Even though Olympics fans relished the slim victory, the celebration would have been greater had their lethargic attackers been more imaginative.

Playing in an unsual orange jersey as against their traditional blue and white worn by the visitors in this encounter literally between the two GFA big shots, Messrs Ade Coker and Oheneba Charles, Olympics were a delight to watch in the first half as they clearly dominated play and kept their opponents goal area under siege.

By the 15th minute, Olympics’ smallish tormentor Joe Louis had announced his presence with a powerful grounder which was pushed to corner by Theodore Atsu who had a good day.

Olympics hard defender Fuseini Adams was booked in the 23rd minute for whacking down Kwaebibirem’s dangerman Oppong Kyekyeku while a minute to the half-hour mark, Justice Yeboah was denied a goal after his long volley hit the crossbar and rebounded into play.

Rasta-haired Michael Asante who came on for Kwaku Duah after recess brought some bite to the Olympics attacking machinery and nearly snatched the leader in the 52nd minute but agile keeper Atsu again proved their undoing.

But very much determined to carry the day, the homesters finally scored a minute later when in a flash, hardworking Billy Sulley connected home beautifully a powerful cross from diminutive striker, Joe Louis on the left.

As if the slim scoreline was destined to stand, Wisdom Abbey’s 61st minute goal was disallowed by Takoradi-based class one referee Jacob Wilson-Sey.

Kotoko clinch it - From Kwabena Agyei-Boahene, Dawu

KUMASI Asante Kotoko yesterday ended another week of uncertainty among their followers when they beat Dawu Youngsters 3-2 at the Dawu Park.

The match was one encounter which the Fabulous club needed to win at all cost to appease their numerous fans who stormed the Dawu in their numbers to support them.

Kotoko dominated the first 30 minutes of the game but failed to utilise the chances that came their way. Shilla Alhassan had a glorious opportunity to put Kotoko in the lead in the 15th minute but squandered it.

Soon afterwards, Adu Poku, Stephen Oduro and Michael Osei combined perfectly on the left flank but failed to translate their efforts into goals.

Michael Osei broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when he shot from an acute angle to give Kotoko the lead after Oduro’s kick failed to find target.

But the jubilation of Kotoko fans was short lived as referee P. S. Odai awarded a penalty against Samuel Bakai for handling the ball in the 18 yard box. Skipper Richard Nartey fetched the equaliser from the spot-kick.

Dawu increased the tally after recess in the 48th minute through a scissor kick after Kotoko’s newly-signed keeper Osei Boateng, failed to grab the ball first time.

Play was halted for almost five minutes when Kotoko fans started throwing missiles onto the pitch to express their displeasure at referee Okai’s handling of the match.

In the 67th minute, Dawu’s Tahiru Abdulai was given the marching off orders for fouling Samuel Bakai but Kotoko struggled to make good use of the numerical chance.

In the 80th minute, Isaac Owusu performed a rescue act when he put Kotoko on level terms from a freekick after Stephen ‘Tico’ Oduro was brought down just after the 18 yard box.

Substitute Augustine Amponsah gave Kotoko the needed victory inthe 87th minute through a strong left footer to which Dawu’s goalie Ernest Boateng could not find an answer.

Addo wins for Hearts

- From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

A 90TH minute strike by nimble footed Ishmael Addo gave Glorious Accra Hearts of Oak a 2-1 victory over Alhaji Grunsah's King Faisal in their ABC premier league match played at the Kumasi Stadium yesterday.

King Faisal opened the scores in the second minute through Nana Frimpong.

George Eranio who played at the left wing collected the ball at the centre circle and glided past two defenders before floating a volley for Frimpong to connect home beautifully.

Hearts accepted the challenge and came close to equalising in the fourth and ninth minutes but goalkeeper Nicholas Opoku Ware in post for Faisal saved the situations.

In the 15th minute, Joe Fameyeh should have equalised from Kenneth Sarpong's cross but he missed narrowly.

In the 17th minute, Ishamel Addo also missed narrowly to the relief of Faisal, when he had only the goalkeeper at his mercy.

Hearts however equalised in the 37th minute when Tanko Ahmadou scored an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball to safety.

Just after recess, Ishmael Addo wasted the most glorious chance when he shot over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat.

From the 65th minute onwards when Emmanuel Kuffour replaced Sarpong, the game became one way traffic with King Faisal always at the receiving end but Hearts failing to take advantage of the numerous chances which came their way.

Just as the game was getting to a close, Hearts sealed the game through Ishmael Addo who connected Emmanuel Adjogu's cross, thus giving their fans cause to celebrate.