Penultimate matches of the first half of this year’s Ghana Premier League season will come on as scheduled at the various league centers this midweek with Accra Hearts of Oak’s quest to hold on to the top spot facing yet another test as they host a dangerous looking Liberty FC side in another ‘closed door’ encounter on Thursday, the last of a 2 game home punishment handed to them by the nation’s top soccer governing body, the GFA. Aduana Stars meteoric rise to the top will be tested on the road against a struggling Ebusua Dwarfs that needs to win at least one of their last two games of this half to avoid being buried too deep at the bottom.
In the only clash between top four teams, Wa All Stars will pit their 3 game non-winning run against Kotoko’s 5 game unbeaten run for the chance to get back in contention, Berekum Chelsea will take on the beleaguered, one step off the bottom, Inter Allies who are still hunting for their elusive third win of the season, and reigning Champions, AshGold, will square off against Techiman City on the road.
Elsewhere, Bechem Utd will look to improve at home at the expense of Hasaacas, Medeama SC will look to dump the Academy Lads (WAFA) at Tarkwa and New Edubiase will look to dispatch Dreams FC on Thursday.
MATCH DAY FOURTEEN - WED/THUR - 25TH / 26TH MAY, 2016
Dwarfs vs Aduana – Cape Coast
PL cellar dwellers – Ebusua Dwarfs - will continue their quest to dig out under the inspiration of new coach, Prosper Nartey, who will be looking to find the charm on his third attempt at the helm against visiting second placed Aduana Stars who have upped their road game and won two straight on the road and are guarding an overall 6 game undefeated run.
Dwarfs are riding a 5 game non-winning run – 3 defeats and 2 ties with their last win coming on match day 8 against Techiman City. They will have to put up one of their best games in recent times to win this one or find themselves sinking in this first ever meeting between the two.
The pressure is once again on the Crabs, and may the third time be the charm for the new boss!
Bechem Utd vs Hasaacas – Bechem
Bechem United will be on the hunt to end their recent 3 game slump that has seen them pick up a meagre 1point out of 9 as they host poor road travelers Sekondi Hasaacas in midweek action.
Bechem failed to earn a point in their away derby against B. Chelsea and they will have to improve at home to move out of the 13th spot.
Hasaacas on their end came from behind to dispatch the visiting Crabs on match day 13 for their 5th win of the season. Unfortunately, they have not being able to replicate their home performance abroad where they are yet to pick up a point despite showing occasional signs of brilliance.
Looks like a winnable game for Bechem but Hasaacas can pull up the surprise and pick a point.
Head to head they have one win apiece between them dating back to the 2015 season
Inter Allies vs Chelsea – Tema
One spot off the cellar beleaguered Inter Allies’ attempt to find the solution to their woes has proven futile so far despite handing over the reins to former Wa All Stars boss Jimmy Cobblah whose home and road debut at home has yielded 1point out of 6.
The team has shown promise on the road and at home, as shown by 3 ties and 1 loss record since week 10 with their inability to score, especially at home being their main problem.
The 6th placed Chelsea bungled their chance to win at home this past Sunday and will look to at worse pick up a point. They are winless on the road with 2 ties being their best thus far.
The desperation to get out of the slide should be enough to motivate Inter Allies to victory at home.
Wa All Stars vs Kotoko – Wa
The only top four clash of the day, with the loser likely to fall out of the ranks of the top four. Both teams have been headed in different directions for a while; a 4 game non-winning run for the one time PL leaders who have suddenly gone cold at home and abroad, picking just 2points out of 12 from their last 4 outings - (2D’s & 2 L’s) - Definitely not a good winning formula.
The Reds on their part have been hot and are riding a 4 consecutive game winning run and are looking to up it to 5 on the road at the expense of Wa All Stars, and they are capable of doing that with the right game plan under caretaker coach Michael Osei who has turned out to be a gem since taking over.
Both teams know what to do for the win, especially All Stars, who know they have to beat the powerhouses to make it to the top. They have to prove to their fans that are not just wannabes but real contenders. Unfortunately, the tale of the tape does not favor them, having lost 9 times, tied 5 and won just twice in 16 appearances against the Reds. But this seems to be a different team and they just may pull this one out.
Techiman City vs AshantiGold – Techiman
Struggling reigning Champions, AshGold, better be on the lookout as they pit their limp performance thus far against the energetic Citizens who knows what it means to win at home, especially with the latter coming off a lone goal loss at WAFA this past Sunday.
The citizen’s worse performance at home this term has been a tie against Hearts of Oak.
It’s hard to fathom AshGold who have survived by scraping together a series of ties at home and on the road doing any better than a draw to end their 5 game non-winning run. They have just two wins, both coming at home, the last was on match day 8 against Edubiase who have adopted Len Clay as their home and the first in their opener against Medeama SC.
Looks like Techiman bounces back in this one to take the points in the first ever meeting between the two.
Medeama vs WAFA – Tarkwa
WAFA will take their quest for their first road win to Tarkwa where they will play as guests of a Medeama SC side that is still in a celebratory mood following their qualification into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup tournament.
The 11th placed Medeama with two games in hand have been in good form lately and have not lost at home since match day two and they will look to keep it that away, especially with their eyes set on the summit.
They escaped Dawu this past Sunday with a vital point, coming back from two goals down and they will look to pick up the max points in this engagement.
WAFA’s road performance has improved a bit as shown by the recent points picked up in Accra and Wa.
Head to head, they have a win apiece between them dating back to last season.
Thursday
Accra: Hearts of Oak vs Liberty Prof
PL leaders Accra Hearts of Oak earned a vital and morale boosting point on the road against the high flying Ogya Boys at Aduana and they will look to extend their unbeaten run to 4 straight with a victory as they take on regional neighbors, Liberty Professionals at an empty Accra Sports Stadium.
The Phobians are having one of their best seasons in recent memory under first year Japanese-American import - Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi - but unfortunately their home turf has been their undoing so far, having lost twice at home in comparison to a perfect road record. And, they will have to pitch a strong performance if they want to haul in all 3points.
The 6 win and 5th placed on 20 points with a game in hand Liberty Professionals are also having a great year as they look to break into the ranks of the top 4 again with a win over the Phobians. Their solo away win record does not do justice to what they are capable of, they have the men capable of delivering victory and the Phobians better by wary of Latif Blessing and his acolytes if they want to avoid the upset at home.
Head to head, Hearts have won 3, tied one and lost one in their last 5 meets with Liberty
Obuasi: New Edubiase vs Dreams
In another of the first ever meets of the match day, Dreams FC, will for the third straight time take another stab at victory which has eluded them on back-to-back occasions as they seek to overcome a two game non-winning run. But, they will have to do it on the road against a desperate New Edubiase side that is looking to move out of the relegation places and are coming out of a 2-0 loss to Liberty on Monday.
Edubiase’s attempt at regeneration has dissipated into thin air after they pulled off back-to-back wins over Kotoko and B. Chelsea on match day 9 and 10. The can certainly improve their standing with a win over the Dreamers who have one win and a draw for their road travails and are capable of picking a point.
Definitely Edubiase’s game to lose.
Correction: Earlier, it was indicated that Bechem earned a point in their derby with B. Chelsea, the former lost by a lone goal.
We do apologize for that slip.
Twitter - @myghanalinks
