League Day 15: Hearts 1 Kotoko 1

Kotoko 1 Hearts 1
Scorers: DON BORTEY (hearts) Godwin Ablordey (Kotoko)
Bofoakwa 3 Maxbees 1
Mines stars 1 Liberty 1
Okwawu 2 Hasaacas 0
RTU 1 Goldfiels 1
Olympic 1 King Faisal 1

Kotoko, Hearts draw

A controversial penalty awarded by FIFA referee Emmanuel Bissi of Sunyani during injury time, enabled Kumasi Asante Kotoko to draw 1-1 with champion club, Accra Hearts of Oak in their titanic premier league in Kumasi.

Skipper Godwin Ablordey scored the equaliser from the resultant kick. The skipper moved into the Hearts penalty box when all hope of both players and Kotoko fans was lost and got the ball to substitute Joe Louis who found himself on the turf when he attempted to move.

Referee Bissi whistled for a penalty but Hearts players protested vehemently claiming the player took a dive since there was no contact from a player. It took security personnel sometime to cool down tempers and skipper Ablordey planted the ball on the left side of goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.

Hearts rocked the stadium in the 70th minute with a spectacular goal by Bernard Don Bortey. The speedster who played a manly game took a pass from Kwame Antwi and outpaced Kwaku Duah before beating onrushing goalkeeper Osei Boateng with an intelligent lob.

The league leaders kept Kotoko fans sitting on tenterhooks for a greater part of the game with their crisp inter-positional passes amidst cheers by their teeming supporters. Indeed, the Hearts defence held Kotoko's speedster Micheal Osei in check giving him no room to move in the early stages of the game as the game progressed it became obvious that he could not tick and was eventually substituted.

Kotoko who were playing at home were anxious to win brought on Frank Osei for Joe Sam after the break. The change bolstered Kotoko's attack and in the 48th and 49th minutes, Nana Arhin Duah and Stephen Oduro missed good chances as Frank Osei also shot wide in the 58th minute.

Hearts, however, turned the tide in their favour when in a swift counter-attack, Kwame Antwi laid on the pass to Don Bortey to open the score. Just as everything looked like a win for Hearts, referee Bissi awarded Kotoko the controversial a penalty from which skipper Ablordey equalised.

Okwawu pip Hasmal

Soccer Mountaineers, Okwawu managed a face-saving 2-0 victory over visiting Sekondi Hasaacas in their last match of the first round of the Premier League played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

Okwawu, who have lost their last two matches on the trot- including a 3-1 home thrashing by Dawu Youngsters dominated play from kick off and deservedly took the lead before half time. But that goal only came after stalwart defender George Tutu had thrown away a 38th-minute penalty to the chagrin of their scanty fans.

However, three minutes after that wastage, former player of Liberty Professionals, Daniel Babayara nodded home beautifully to give the homesters the opener.

Barely a minute after the resumption of the second half, Paul Amponsah fired past goalkeeper Seth Tabiriin in post for Hasaacas for the second goal. Unfortunately, the performance of the two sides slumped considerably after the goals and on the few occasions that Okwawu came close to increasing the tally, their efforts were thwarted by goalkeeper Tabiri. Okwawu should have added more goals but goalie Tabiri stood between them and the goal harvest with some excellent saves.

Olympics and Faisal share points

Wonder club, Accra Great Olympics on Sunday put up a spirited performance to snatch a 90th minute equaliser against King Faisal in their league match at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Faisal got the opener in the 16th minute through Kwabena Boateng when he sent a brilliant left footer from the rebound of a cornerkick after Olympics goalie Theodore Atsu failed to grab the ball in his first attempt.

Although Olympics made some serious attempts at goal, Faisal’s defence, comprising Frank Amankwaah, Dada Kwadwo, Sam Thompson and Yahaya Iddrisu, combined beautifully to prevent any goals.

However, the expulsion of Faisal’s Dada Kwadwo in the 50th minute for a retaliatory charge on Winfred Dormon and the introduction of diminutive midfielder, Joe Tagoe, apparently lifted the game of the Wonder Boys, Oly, who wasted no time to take advantage of the numerical disadvantage. Tagoe, arguably the lifeline of Olympics, inspired his side to make threatening moves, forcing goalkeeper Sam Okyere to make superb saves to keep Faisal’s thin lead.

Olympics final moment, however, came in the 90th minute when substitute Adjetey Gershon beautifully slotted home Dormon’s cross from the right flank to bring back life into the dejected Olympics fans at the stadium.

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