Week 17 of the Ghana Premier League came on as scheduled with some stunning results; WAFA whitewashed visiting Accra Hearts of Oak by 5 goals to nothing in a match that bore no resemblance to the top-four encounter that it was to reclaim the premier league top spot following B. Chelsea’s come from behind late win over hitherto table-toppers Aduana Stars on Saturday. Wonder Club, Accra Gt. Olympics and AshGold continue to show progress towards avoiding relegation, but Tema Youth and Bolga All Stars seem stuck in reverse mode as they failed to make major headway at home.
West African Football Academy (WAFA) continued their incredible run for the club’s first ever Premier League with an embarrassing 5-0 crushing of Hearts of Oak – the largest deficit the Phobians have suffered in recent memory - to avenge their Week 14 loss to their guests. In a game that was largely dominated by the hosts, two first half goals from Majeed Ashimeru (28) and Abdul Wahab Ibrahim (45+4) gave the Academy lads a commanding 2-0 lead at the break. Daniel Lomotey turned the game into a rout with a 3rd shortly upon resumption (50) before grabbing a double at the 61st minute mark with what looked like a victory-sealing rasping shot that left Samuel Akurugu in goal for Hearts stranded, but alas, the Academy Lads were not done as Abubakar Ibrahim iced the win with a cheeky 5th goal to add to the despair and frustration of Hearts of Oak as the rain which had started coming down around the 75th minute mark continued to indulge the Hearts of Oak faithfuls as it washed away their tears. The win is the largest for the Academy Lads who regained the top spot since gaining promotion to the tier-one division a couple of years back. It’s the biggest humbling pie the Phobians have been fed in recent memory, and the worse under new Boss – Frank Nuttal – who took over the club this year. Hearts held on to the third spot on 27points in spite of the loss but whatever hopes they had left of catching up to the summit disappeared with the loss. The loss also ended a seven game unbeaten run for Hearts.
Three-goal hero Alfred Okai Quaye
Earlier on Saturday, hitherto Ghana Premier league leaders – Aduana Stars – and Berekum Chelsea played to an exciting 5-goal thriller with a late winner (90) from Alfred Okai Quaye who was magnificent on the day with a trio of goals – the first hat trick record in the Brong Derby - to guarantee B. Chelsea regained the bragging rights in the Brong Derby as well as end their 3-game slide. Alfred Quaye’s 3rd minute opener was cancelled by Zakaria Mumuni’s 30th minute equalizer before the in-form visitors took a 2-1 lead courtesy of Bright Adjei’s 65th minute goal. Alfred Quaye scored again courtesy of a 73minute penalty that leveled things before grabbing his 90th minute game winning goal with the match heading towards what looked like a well-deserved tie for Aduana. The hat trick is the first for Alfred Quaye and the first for B. Chelsea this season. The result saw Aduana Stars cede the summit they reclaimed last week to WAFA as they fell two points back in the chase on 33points.
At the Baba Yara Stadium, visiting Accra Gt. Olympics continued their resurrection under new Coach – Tom Strand – as they forced the highly favored Porcupine Warriors to climb back into the game from a goal down for a point. Following a goalless first half, David Agodorme connected home Kwame Boateng’s cross to give Olympics the lead at the 47th minute mark before substitute Saddick Adams whose presence energized the game for Kotoko pulled his side level from the spot around the 65th minute. Kotoko who dominated play in the early part of the first half will rue missed opportunities from Yakubu Mohammed and Emmanuel Gyamfi. For Gt. Olympics who remain on course to beat relegation, it was an improved outing compared to previous performances, they upped their tally to 19points for the 12th spot while Kotoko who seemed to have taken another step back in light of last weeks’ win moved up to the 5th spot on 25points.
Neophyte side – Elmina Sharks – brought the smiles back to the faces of their fans with a convincing 2-0 win for the maximum 3points and a revenge of their Week fourteen 3-1 spanking in the first encounter between the two sides. Despite a staunch Medeama defense, goals from Emmanuel Otoo and Farouk Adams were enough to end Medeama’s recent surge that saw them tie one and win four of their last five matches. Medeama dropped to the 7th spot on 24points with the tie whilst the Sharks improved to the 10th spot on 21points.
Bechem United rebounded from last week’s 2-0 loss against Aduana Stars with a 2-0 win of their own to complete the double over visiting defending league Champions - Wa All Stars. They edged the visiting Champions by a lone goal in their Week 14 encounter at Wa. Goals from Wontah Konkoni Hafiz and Ahmed Toure were enough to hand the maximum spoils to the home team. The win ended a two game non-winning run for Bechem who improved to the 6th spot on 25points whilst the defending champions dropped to the 11th spot on 21points.
Elsewhere, Relegation threatened Tema Youth failed to take advantage of home court to boost their survival chances as they were held to a goalless tie by visiting Liberty Professionals who ended a two game road trip with an impressive 2points. The tie left Tema Youth winless in their last four premier league outings. They remain two spots off the bottom and worse off by a point for the first safe spot held by Liberty Profs on 19points.
Ashanti Gold continued their remarkable rise under one-time club player and now new trainer of the club – C. K. Akunnor – with an impressive 3-0 spanking of visiting Ebusua Dwarfs to move 3points closer to the first safe spot. Hans Kwofie’s 87th minute goal sandwiched between two converted spot kicks by Richard Ocran (39) and (90) were enough to hand the Miners all 3points against Ebusua Dwarfs who seem to have reverted to their old ways on the road as they picked up their second straight road loss in as many games. The victory was sweet revenge for AshGold who lost the first encounter by four goals to one. Dwarfs have the 8th spot on 23points. And with 17 games gone in the season, newbies – Bolga All Stars – dug themselves deeper into the relegation hole as visiting Inter Allies had them on the ropes for a greater part of the game and forced them to come from a goal down for a point. Abubakari Latif’s 3rd minute opener handed Inter Allies the lead, but the home side leveled things on 18minutes courtesy of Ibrahim Giyasu before the game coasted to a 1-1 end with both sides failing to take advantage of the limited chances that came their way. Inter Allies improved to the 9th spot on 22points while Bolga All Stars remain bottommost on 11points, 8 adrift of safety.
Ghana Premier League Week 17 scores
Berekum Chelsea 3-2 Aduana Stars - Berekum
WAFA 5-0 Hearts of Oak – Sogakope
Asante Kotoko 1-1 Gt. Oly – Kumasi
Elmina Sharks 2-0 Medeama – Cape Coast
Bechem Utd 2-0 Wa All Stars
Tema 0-0 Liberty Profs – Tema
AshantiGold 3-0 Ebusua Dwarfs
Bolga All Stars 1-1 Inter Allies
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