Penultimate matches of the 2016/17 Ghana Premier League season came on as scheduled this afternoon with league leaders – Aduana Stars – avoiding the upset at home, as they roared back from a goal down for the win, and the Premier League title with a game to go.
West African Football Academy (WAFA) and Accra Hearts of Oak maintained their respective second and third spots despite losing on the day, and Asante Kotoko held on to the fourth spot with a win over B. Chelsea.
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Elsewhere on Sunday, Inter Allies scored a crucial win over Liberty Professionals to leave the bottom three spots unchanged, despite critical victories recorded by relegation threatened Accra Gt. Olympics and Tema Youth.
Ghana Premier League Week 29 Standings.
Inter Allies 2-1 Liberty Profs – El WAK Stadium, Accra
Hitherto relegation-threatened Inter Allies grabbed back to back wins for the first time this season, as they overcame regional neighbors - Liberty Professionals - by two goals to one to vastly improve their chances of survival.
An early first minute goal from Abdul Nassiru Hamzah set Inter Allies on to the path of victory before Isaac Twum doubled his side’s lead from the spot at the 23rd minute mark for a 2-0 lead at the break.
Liberty Professionals upped their game upon resumption with hopes of cutting the deficit, but they had to wait deep into the stoppage time (94m) before Benjamin Eshun nabbed a consolation goal for them.
Inter Allies, vastly improved their survival in the Premier League with the win, as they upped their tally to 39points for the 10th spot. Liberty Professionals dropped to the 12th spot on 38points with the loss. They will have the chance to seal their survival with a win or perhaps a tie against Kotoko next Sunday.
Dwarfs 2-1 WAFA – Cape Coast
At Cape Sports Stadium, Ebusua Dwarfs sealed their spot in tier-one soccer, come next year with an impressive 2-1 over visiting West African Football Academy (WAFA).
Dwarfs got the perfect start from an early goal, courtesy of Joseph Esso who converted from the spot. But WAFA’s Justice Amate drew his side to parity to set the stage for a second half showdown that eventually saw Joseph Esso making it a personal double as Dwarfs held on for the win.
Dwarfs improved their tally to 41points for the seventh spot whilst WAFA remained second on 50points.
Wa All Stars 6-1 Bolga All Stars – Wa
As expected, dethroned 2015/16 Ghana Premier League Champions, Wa All Stars, made mincemeat of already relegated Bolga All Stars with a 6-1.
David Abagna's 6th minute goal was cancelled out by Razak Abdullah on 16minutes, but two quick goals from David Abagna and K. Baffour Asuandzie gave Wa All Stars comfortable 3-1 lead.
Two quick goals in succession from K. Baffour Asuandzie for a hat-trick saw Wa All Stars extend the lead to 5-1, before K. Baffour Asuandzie capped his impressive performance in front of goal with his fourth of the day for a final score of 6-1.
The result means that Bolga All Stars have now conceded 14 goals in goals in their last three Premier League matches. Wa All Stars improved to the 5th spot on 42points.
Aduana Stars 2-1 Elmina Sharks – Dormaa
At Dormaa’s Nana Agyeman Park, Premier League leaders – Aduana Stars – prevailed over Elmina Sharks after storming back from a goal deficit for the win and this year’s Premier League title.
Interestingly, it was the pesky Elmina Sharks side that took lead the just before the break, courtesy of Benjamin Tweneboah who powered home from close range after he was put through by Felix Addo. The home side protested the goal but the referee stood by his decision, much to the chagrin of the home fans.
The Sharks lead did not last long as Rashid Alhassan tapped home from close range 12minutes after recess to restore some sense of normalcy and hope for the panicky home fans. And with the Sharks defending well and the match heading towards a possible stalemate, the referee awarded a contentious 74th minute penalty to Aduana Stars. Sam Adams struck the underside of the bar for the winner and glory.
Aduana Stars extended their hold on the Premier League table to 57points, 7points better than their closest competitors, WAFA, who were 2-1 losers against Ebusua Dwarfs on the afternoon.
Gt. Olympics 1-0 AshantiGold – Accra
Wonder Club, Accra Gt. Olympics, continued their marvelous but improbable Premier League survival run with an impressive lone goal win over AshantiGold at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In a game that was by and large dominated by Gt. Olympics, Benjamin Arthur’s goal from the spot ended up being the major difference as the home side held on for the crucial win. Olympics will rue Christopher Nakai Nettey’s strike that bounced off the goal post, as the goal would have come in handy in the goal’s category.
There was some game waning moment drama as a 90th minute free kick for AshGold at the 36 yard line was placed far off target, and AshGold saw their subsequent equalizer disallowed by the referee.
The win saw the Rosalinda club improve their tally to 36points, but they are still glued to the 15th spot as the teams they needed to lose all won. The win marked a third straight win for the relegation besieged club under Coach Godwin Attram’s second coming at the helm, and an overall undefeated four game streak.
Olympics will have to win against Bechem United who are two points better than them, to have a shot at surviving relegation. AshGold with 38points for the 11th spot look to be in a good position as the welcome Champions in waiting – Aduana Stars – to the Len Clay Stadium next Sunday.
Tema Youth 2-1 Bechem United – Tema
Relegation threatened Tema Youth injected a semblance of life into their Premier League survival battle with a crucial 2-1 win over visiting Bechem United to improve their tally to 37points for the 14th spot.
Aaron Awannorh’s 15th minute goal set Tema Youth on to the path of victory, but it was short-lived as Mohammed Hamza levelled up for Bechem Utd before the half to set the stage for a dramatic and tense second half that finally saw Ekow Benson convert from the spot on 90minutes to hand the 3points to Tema Youth.
Bechem United dropped to the first relegation spot on 38points with the loss, but will have the chance to secure their stay at home next Sunday, as hosts of Gt. Olympics. Tema Youth on their part will square off on the road against mid-tablers Berekum Chelsea who are in need of the three points to avoid any relegation surprises.
Asante Kotoko 1-0 Berekum Chelsea – Baba Yara Stadium
Kumasi Asante Kotoko maintained their undefeated home record with a lone goal win over Berekum Chelsea as they closed out the season at home.
In a game that was by and large dominated by Kotoko, Sadick Adams scored the only goal of the game in the 9th minute, with John Moosie in goal pulling a world class double save on 43minutes to deny Kotoko a second.
Kotoko continued their dominance in the second half but were unable to add to the scoreline as B. Chelsea held them at bay.
Kotoko will have to defeat relegation-wary Liberty Professionals next Sunday to maintain their tenuous hold on the fourth spot. Chelsea dropped to mid-table on 39points with the loss.
Medeama SC 1-0 Hearts of Oak
Medeama SC bounced back from their recent two game decline for a lone goal win over Accra Hearts of Oak that saw them up their tally to 41points, as well as take themselves out of any relegation talk.
Francis Addo’s 67th minute goal against the run of play from the edge of the box ended up being the difference on the afternoon as the Yellow and Mauves held on for the much needed win.
The win saw Medeama grab the season advantage over the Phobians and a move up to the 6th spot. Hearts on their part retained their third spot.
Ghana Premier League Week 29 Scores At A Glance
Inter Allies 2-1 Liberty Profs – El WAK Stadium, Accra
Dwarfs 2-1 WAFA – Cape Coast
Wa All Stars 6-1 Bolga All Stars – Wa
Aduana Stars 2-1Elmina Sharks – Dormaa
Gt. Olympics 1-0 AshantiGold – Accra
Tema Youth 2-1 Bechem United – Tema
Asante Kotoko 1-0 Berekum Chelsea – Baba Yara Stadium
Medeama SC 1-0 Hearts of Oak
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