Faisal pip RTU in last league match

Kumasi, Nov 20, GNA - King Faisal put up a spirited performance to beat Real Tamale United (RTU) 2-0 in their final Zone 'A' GT premier league match at the Kumasi Sports stadium on Saturday.

By this victory, Faisal becomes one of the clubs to play in next year's Confederation Cup and thus pushed RTU to third place on the Zone 'A' table.

After a scoreless first half, Faisal came back from recess firing on all cylinders and succeeded in scoring both goals in the half. RTU who until this defeat were second on the Zone 'A' table and therefore strong contenders for the Confederation Cup have themselves to blame for succumbing to Faisal.

Instead of opening up their game like they did in the first half, they decided to recoil to their shells and played defensively for a draw which could have qualified them at the expense of Faisal but the strategy did not work as Faisal put them under ssustained pressure. Faisal shot into the lead in the 70th minute from Eric Gawu's header to Akwasi Bobie Ansah's cross.

This goal served as a tonic for Faisal who attacked from all angles and kept the goal area of RTU boiling but superb goalkeeping by Mohammed Habib kept the score line down.

Sensing danger, RTU opened up and nearly equalised in the 78th minute when Alhassan Weah's long range shot beat Faisal goalkeeper Mohammed Suraju but the ball hit the cross bar and went out of play. Let off the hook, Faisal continued their dominance and scored the second goal in the 84th minute through Mohammed Habib who connected Sumaila Alhassan's cross into the net.

Frustration set into the game of RTU as the players resorted to hard tackles and they paid dearly for it as Mohammed Bukari was sent off after a brutal tackle on a Faisal defender during extra time.