- Newly promoted side, Karela United FC, continued their stellar run with 2-1 win over visiting Inter Allies FC, to close out the first half of the season on a very impressive note,...
The first round of the 2017/18 Ghana Premier League concluded this weekend, with one spot off the bottom, Ebusua Dwarfs, unable to secure the much needed win on Saturday, but they managed a crucial point to keep their press out of the bottom places alive.
Wa All Stars and Bechem United secured much needed wins at home against Eleven Wonders, and WAFA Academy to help their cause. Liberty Professionals picked up a crucial point against Elmina Sharks, whilst Accra Hearts of Oak settled for a disappointing point with Medeama SC.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Karela United FC, and Berekum Chelsea closed out the season strongly with victories over Aduana Stars, Inter Allies, and AshantiGold FC.
Ghana Premier League Week 15 Standings
Dreams FC 1-1 Ebusua Dwarfs – Baba Yara Stadium
With mounting pressure to move out of the bottom places Dwarfs got off to a good start, but it was Dreams FC who struck first (11), as Leonard Owusu blasted the opener into an empty net after rounding up the Dwarfs goalie. Dwarfs went on the attack for the equalizer and were rewarded before the break as Michael Asamoah Agyei leveled matters up, following a well-executed corner kick before the break.
Both teams missed some good chances to grab the winner after the break, with Dreams FC failing to capitalize on a free kick just outside the box, and youngster Benjamin Ayim blasting against the post, whilst Dwarfs missed a good scoring chance at the 72nd minute mark.
Dreams FC dropped to the 6th spot, whilst Dwarfs remained 15th on 14 points.
B. Chelsea 1-0 Ashanti Gold FC – Golden City Park
AshGold’s quest to reclaim the summit was met with stiff opposition by Berekum Chelsea on Sunday, who handed them their fourth loss of the season.
Berekum Chelsea started the game strongly with Stephen Amankomah testing Robert Dabuo in goal for AshGold with a powerful shot from 20 barely five minutes into the game that the latter did well to save, but they had to 25 more minutes before Stephen Amankomah struck home the eventual winner from a free kick for a goal advantage at the break.
AshGold brought on Nuru Abdulai for Amos Addai after 70 minutes in an unfruitful bid for the equalizer, but it was B. Chelsea who failed to take advantage to double their lead following a free kick (88).
AshGold ceded the second spot for the third on 24 points, but B. Chelsea improved to 9th on 19 points.
Wa All Stars 1-0 Eleven Wonders – Malik Jabir Park
Wa All Stars breathed new life into their ailing campaign, as they won for just the second time this season, to end their nine-game non-winning run.
Maxwell Oppong’s fortuitous first half goal after a poor attempt at clearing the ball by Eleven Wonders goalie John Moosi fell to him was the difference maker as Wa All Stars held on for the full spoils despite last minute pressure from their guests to grab a point.
Wa All Stars remain bottommost on 10 points, while Eleven Wonders dropped to 12th on 17 points.
Hearts of Oak 1-1 Medeama SC – Cape Coast Stadium
Hearts of Oak failed to live up to the pressure once again, as they played to a disappointing 1-1 tie with visiting Medeama SC, to end the first half of the season on a four-game winless run.
Hearts got off to a bright start with a couple of early chances: a first minute chance for Joseph Esso, who was unable to capitalize, following a long float of the ball into the box by Christopher Bonney. Joseph Bonney had another chance on 17 minutes, but he saw his scooped effort clawed out by Eric Ofori, only for Aboubacar Traore to shin out what should have been a goal off target. Hearts, however, could not be denied the opener as Traore tapped home the opener at the back post, following a long cross from Bonney that eluded the Medeama defense for a goal advantage at the break.
Both teams made changes midway into the second half, with Hearts pressing to add to their tally, and Medeama incessantly bending the Hearts defense for the equalizer as the game rolled into injury time with victory looking certain for Hearts. But, Medeama would not be denied a point, deep into injury time (93), as Awudu Tahiru struck at the death, following a 93rd minute free kick effected by Eric Ofori Antwil
Hearts remained in the bottom four (13th) on 17 points, whilst Medeama maintained their 2 points advantage at the helm.
Highlights 🎥: @KarelaUtd_FC 2-1 @InterAlliesFC #ZylofonCashGHPL #GHPLWK15 pic.twitter.com/Ky2BXU3SSU
— Ghana League Goals 🇬🇭⚽️🏆 (@GHPL_Goals) June 3, 2018
Karela United FC 2-1 Inter Allies – CAM Park
Newly promoted side, Karela United FC, continued their stellar run with 2-1 win over visiting Inter Allies FC, to close out the first half of the season on a very impressive note, as they surged to the second spot on 25 points, just two shy off the apex.
Karela United dominated the game and took a 10th minute lead via a spot kick that was converted by Abdul Ganui, but the Capelli Boys bounced back with a spot kick of their own (37) that was converted by Paul Abanga for an even scoreline at the break.
Inter Allies held down the Passioners attempt to take the lead as the latter continued their dominance of the game. But the hosts broke through late, in the waning moments of the game, with William Opoku Mensah breaking the deadlock to hand his side the full spoils.
Inter Allies dropped to the 5th spot on 24 points with the loss.
Bechem United 2-1 WAFA – Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park
It was an exciting 28 minutes of soccer between WAFA and Bechem United at the NFGP that saw three goals, as Bechem United roared back from a goal down for the winner, to end their recent four-game non-winning run.
Following a tepid first half, the Academy Lads broke the deadlock, courtesy of midfielder Umar Basiru, who nodded home on a Richard Danso cross. The goal incensed Bechem Utd, who were staring at a third straight loss to up their game. The Academy Lads held off the offensive attack from the Hunters but capitulated within five minutes. First, Hamza Mohammed blasted home the equalizer from the edge of the box after a corner kick clearance from the WAFA defense fell to him, and danger man Hafiz Wontah fired a last-gasp shot past Richmond Ayi in goal for WAFA, to complete his side’s comeback.
The loss, the first under the charge of Peter Liewig, who took over the coaching department on 17th of May, 2018, ended an unbeaten eight-game run for WAFA, who held on to the 7th spot on 20 points. Bechem improved to the 10th spot on 19 points.
Highlights 🎥 : @AsanteKotoko_SC 2-1 @AduanaStarsFc #ZylofonCashGHPL #GHPLWK15 pic.twitter.com/yPC4TpqPB1
— Ghana League Goals 🇬🇭⚽️🏆 (@GHPL_Goals) June 3, 2018
Kumasi Asante Kotoko 2-1 Aduana Stars – Baba Yara Stadium
Kumasi Asante ended the first half of the season with an impressive 2-1 win over reigning Champions, Aduana Stars, for an impressive undefeated four-game run (3 wins and a tie), and a return to the ranks of the top four.
Burkina Faso international, Songne Yacouba, got the Porcupine Warriors off to a bright and early start, as he struck home the opener (7), with a brilliantly executed low Ronaldinho-like free kick that he bent around the human wall. Kotoko went close to upping the tally (14), but Jordan Opoku’s terrific effort ricocheted off the upright. Aduana Stars got back into the game with a goal (16) that was ruled offside, and with neither team able to score the first half ended with a goal advantage to Kotoko.
Songne Yacouba side-footed home the second goal for his side two minutes after recess from close range, following a low cross from Jordan Opoku’s solo run that found him unmarked. But Bright Adjei handed his side a lifeline; pulling one back on 65 minutes, before substitute Uba Ikama saw his tuck-in from an audacious Justice Anane free kick that struck the upright ruled offside, and Felix Annan pulled an incredible 89th minute save to deny the Fire Club the equalizer.
Aduana Stars remain 14th on 14 points with four outstanding games.
Elmina Sharks 1-1 Liberty Professionals – Nduom Stadium
Liberty Professionals stayed true their recent improved form as they picked up a crucial point in their match against Elmina Sharks played at the Nduom Stadium on Sunday.
Tamimu Montari’s 17th minute goal gave Liberty Profs an early lead, but it was cancelled out 13 minutes later from the spot by Yakubu Mohammed, after Edwin Tuffuor fouled an opposing player in the box for a 1-1 stalemate at the break.
And with neither side able to take advantage of the few chances that came their way, the game ended on a 1-1 tie. A disappointing finish for the Sharks, who were hoping to put an end to a four game winless run ahead of the second round.
Liberty Profs improved to the 11th spot on 17 points, while the Sharks held on to the midtable spot on 20 points.
Ghana Premier League Week 15 Fixtures – June 3rd, 2018
Dreams FC 1-1 Ebusua Dwarfs – Baba Yara
B. Chelsea vs Ashanti Gold FC – Golden City Park, Berekum
Wa All Stars vs Eleven Wonders – Malik Jabir Park, Wa
Hearts of Oak vs Medeama SC – Cape Coast Stadium
Karela United FC vs Inter Allies – CAM Park, Anyinase
Bechem United vs WAFA – Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, Bechem
Kumasi Asante Kotoko vs Aduana Stars – Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Elmina Sharks vs Liberty Professionals – Nduom Stadium, Cape Coast
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