- Elsewhere on Sunday, WAFA edged Ebusua Dwarfs by two goals to nothing, while Liberty professionals and Karela FC picked up a point at Berekum Chelsea ...
Week 02 of the Ghana Premier League got underway this past Friday with the highly anticipated explosive home opener for Legon Cities FC formerly known as Wa All Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium ending in disappointment as Asante Kotoko climbed back from a goal down to beat them by three goals to one.
Playing the only Premier League match of the day on Saturday, Inter Allies FC overcame their disastrous start to the season with a 2-1 win over Bechem United at the Accra Sports Stadium.
On Sunday, disaster struck again for Hearts of Oak as interim head coach, Emmanuel Odoom, in the hot seat for the recently fired Kim Grant failed to turn the tide, as his side was handed a 3-0 shutout defeat by Medeama SC. Aduana Stars, AshantiGold, and Dreams FC all continued their strong start to the season with impressive lone goal victories against Gt. Olympics, King Faisal and Eleven Wonders.
Elsewhere on Sunday, WAFA edged Ebusua Dwarfs by two goals to nothing, while Liberty professionals and Karela FC picked up a point at Berekum Chelsea and Elmina respectively.
Friday
Legon Cities FC 1-3 Asante Kotoko - Accra Sports Stadium
Kumasi Asante came from a goal down on Friday night for a 3-1 win over boisterous Legon Cities FC.
On an exhilarating football night that saw the ever popular dancehall artiste Shatta Wale thrill fans beyond their wildest imagination, Legon Cities FC nabbed the opener in the 10th minute when Greek international Panayotis Papadopoulos met a cross from the left side of attack and
Kotoko drew level 23 minutes later courtesy of Augustine Okrah who lobbed the ball over Fatau Dauda in goal for Legon Cities following a through pass from Songne Yacouba. Cities Paintsil went close for the equalizer but Felix Annan in goal for Kotoko stretched to his elastic limit to parry his powerful free-kick from the edge of the box away. Shortly after that Emmanuel Okrah made it a double after Yacouba’s cross into the box took a wicked deflection off a Cities defender for him to head home into an empty net.
Victory sees Kotoko make it a perfect two for 6 points and the third spot, with Cities in 12th with a point.
Saturday
Inter Allies 2-1 Bechem United - Accra Sports Stadium
Inter Allies rebounded from their 0-4 loss to Aduana Stars on opening day with a 2-1 over Bechem United 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Two first half goals from Kwabena Kyeremateng and Victorien Adebayor sandwiched between Salifu Moro’s leveler saw the Capelli Boys pick up the full spoils.
With five changes to the lineup that went down at Aduana, Samuel Armah and Victorien Adebayor both went close to grabbing the opener for Coach Tonny Lokko, but were denied by Prince Asempa in goal for Bechem.
Inter Allies could not be denied the opener at the 9th minute mark as Kwabena Kyeremeh struck home after being put through by Victorien Adebayor, before Salifu Moro leveled for Bechem Utd (22m), but the hosts had the last say before the break as Adebayor slotted home what turned out to be the winner (42m) for a 2-1 advantage at the break.
It was a tough second half for both sides with Allies having the advantage but were denied from increasing the tally by Bechem’s goalie.
Sunday
Medeama 3-0 Hearts of Oak - Tarkwa Akoon Park
Meadeama SC continued their home dominance over an ailing Accra Hearts of Oak side with an impressive 3-0 win with newly signed Prince Opoku Agyemang hitting a brace.
Agyemang converted from 12 yards out two minutes into the match after Kofi Kordzi handled the ball inside the box following a corner-kick before completing his brace with a simple tap into the net from close quarters for a 2-0 advantage at half-time.
With the Phobians continuing their lackluster display after recess, the Mauve and Yellows remained dominant, outclassing the Accra giants in all aspects of the game, before substitute Nana Kofi Babil added a third to inflame the raging turmoil in Hearts’ camp.
Defeat saw Hearts drop to the bottom of the table with 0 points from two matches whilst their conquerors have the top spot on 6 points.
King Faisal 0-1 AshantiGold – Kumasi
Centre back Yusif Mubarik scored his second goal of the season as his side edged King Faisal by a goal.
Both sides looked equally matched at the onset with Ashantigold looking more likely to score with Mark Agyekum giving the Faisal defense some problems on the right flank.
A beautiful burst of counter attack saw Osman Ibrahim get the better of the Miners right back Kwadwo Amoako for a cut-back but Latif Mohammed blasted over the cross bar from 12 yards.
Ashantigold responded quickly but Mark Agyekum's fantastic strike from a James Akaminko pass from 28 yards out ricocheted off the cross bar and off the goal line.
King Faisal goalkeeper and Captain, Alexander Domfeh pulled a dramatic save as he tipped over Shafiu Mumuni’s header from an Amos Addai cross to keep the scoreline level just before the break.
A second yellow card to Domfeh for handling the ball outside the box led to a freekick which was converted by Mubarik Yussif for the winner.
King Faisal pushed in vain for the equaliser as Kwame Peprah saw his 77th minute effort denied by Frank Boateng. AshantiGold has the 4th spot on 6 points with King Faisal two spots off the bottom.
Berekum Chelsea 0-0 Liberty Prof. – Berekum
Liberty Professionals grabbed a vital point away against Berekum Chelsea who were looking for their second straight win of the campaign.
Berekum Chelea dominated both halves but were unable to make it count. They had their best chance of the game in the 38th minute but failed to capitalize and then wasted a 72nd minute spot kick courtesy of Ganiu, who was later denied by Liberty’s goalie. Chelsea dropped to 7th whilst Liberty also dropped to 10th.
Eleven Wonders 0-1 Dreams FC – Techiman
Dreams FC continued their impressive start to the season with a hard-fought lone goal win over Eleven Wonders for 6 points and the third spot.
Playing at the Nana Ameyaw park in Techiman, defender, Suleiman Mohammed’s 14th minute goal ended up being the difference maker as the "Still Believe" side held on for the maximum points against a pressing and much improved second-half performance from their host. Dreams FC join AshantiGold SC, Aduana Stars, Asante Kotoko SC, WAFA SC and Medeama SC with 100 percent record after two matches.
Elmina Sharks 1-1 Karela FC – Elmina
At the Elmina Sports Stadium, Karela FC and Elmina Sharks played to a 1-1 tie.
With both teams coming off losses last weekend and looking for victory, it was the Karela FC who struck first after 33 minutes through Darlington Gyan Fosu, before a powerful left footed shot from Samuel Arthur deflected off the wall into the path of Raphael Ocloo who slotted home the equalizer ahead of the break.
Both sides missed a couple of chances to go up after recess. The outcome has Karela in 11th with a point and the Sharks in 13th with a point also.
Accra Gt. Olympics 0-1 Aduana Stars – Accra Sports Stadium
Aduana Stars kept up their strong start to the season with a late 1-0 win over Gt. Olympics for the second spot on 6 points.
Looking to wash their 3-0 opening day loss at AshGold off their minds, Coach Prince Koffie started off with a strong squad that included former Ghana youth star Gladson Awako with Emmanuel Clottey as the lone ranger, but it was the Fire Boys who dictated the pace, especially in the second half.
Aduana’s coach upped the pressure on Olympics as he substituted Richard Nana Kwesi for Noah Martey in the 72nd minute with the game seemingly heading towards a stalemate, but that was not to be as a late Nana Kwesi strike (93) from out of the blue saw his side condemn Olympics to a second straight loss. Olymics dropped to 17th with the loss.
WAFA 2-0 Ebusua Dwarfs
Upstarts West African Football Academy backed up their quest for the club’s premier Premier League title with an impressive 2-0 home over Ebusua Dwarfs who picked up their second straight loss of the young season.
A goal in each half; the first from Eric Asamany after 13 minutes, and the second from Daniel Owusu (81) handed the home side the full spoils despite a fairly strong performance from Dwarfs who have the first safe spot on the table with 0 points. WAFA is sixth, tied with 6 other teams, all with 6 points for the top spot.
Ghana Premier League Week 02 Scores At A Glance
Friday
Legon Cities FC 3-1 Asante Kotoko - Accra Sports Stadium
Saturday
Inter Allies 2-1 Bechem United - Accra Sports Stadium
Sunday
Medeama 3-0 Hearts of Oak - Tarkwa Akoon Park
King Faisal 0-1 AshantiGold – Kumasi
Berekum Chelsea 0-0 Liberty Prof. – Berekum
Eleven Wonders 0-1 Dreams FC – Techiman
Elmina Sharks 1-1 Karela FC - Elmina
Olympics 0-1 Aduana Stars – Accra Sports Stadium
WAFA 2-0 Ebusua Dwarfs
Abena Alice with newswires
