Match Day 19 Wrap: Hearts claim top spot, Kotoko and Aduana held at home

By: Kofi Amoah

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Ghana Premier League match day 19 ended at seven (7) league centers with the exception of Medeama and Techiman City game, due to the Tarkwa-based club involvement in continental duties.

Match day 19 will be recorded among the weeks with the least amount of goals churn out. The only surprise was Dreams FC piping Liberty Professionals at the Carl Reindolf Park. We had nine (9) goals recorded with four (4) scored by visiting teams and five (5) for the home side – two (2) away victories and two (2) draws were produced.

The Baba Yara Stadium saw frustration written all over the faces of the Porcupine Warriors players after full time, having played a pulsating game with Bechem United, the Hunters they call them. Kotoko had won 0-1 in the first round and were seeking to do a double and probably go top of the league table with news of league leaders Wa All Stars being thumped in Sogakope. Bechem had not won an away game in 24 league matches prior to the game, drawn four (4) and lost 20. Their last win was a 2-3 against Amidaus Professional. After resulting to series of delays and feigning injuries, they walked away with a point from Kumasi as the game ended goalless.

The Sekondi Stadium on the other hand proved good breeding grounds for Hearts of Oak coach Sergio Traquil after technically picking his first win in Ghana’s elite division. A sigh of relief for the Portuguese I believe. Cosmos Dauda made sure Hearts unbeaten away record was kept intact and traveled back to Accra with all the three points. They have won five (5) and drawn five (5), scored 12 and conceded six (6). His 59^th minute goal and personal 8^th goal of the season was enough for the Phobians to boost their confidence for a date against their bitterest rivals Asante Kotoko next week. Hasaacas has suffered their 2^nd home defeat at home, after earlier losing 0-1 to Liberty in the first round. Hearts of Oak occupies top of the league table with 34 points, above second placed Wa All Stars (32) and Asante Kotoko (32).

Another record was kept intact at the Sogakope Park. WAFA have gone 10 matches at home without a defeat, recording seven (7) victories and three (3) draws. In-addition, they have conceded just three goals at home and scored 16 goals. Midfielder Kennedy Boateng shot the home side ahead before Komlan Agbeniadan added the second goal to make it 2-0 in the first half. Matthew Andoh reduced the deficit in the 65^th minute but Wa All Stars could not pull even. The league leaders lost the game by two goals to one.

However, the story at the Berekum Golden City Park got worse for travelling Ebusua Dwarfs. Their intentions of picking at least a point saw it quashed away with Stephen Owusu’s only goal in the first half getting them stacked at the relegation zone, 14^th on the league table with 10 points.

Aduana Stars recorded their second draw at home in the league after a one all draw with another relegation threaten New Edubiase. They have won seven (7) matches at home whiles Edubiase have lost their last three away matches conceding six (6) goals. New signing Nathaniel Ohene Asamoah scored his first goal for Aduana in 347 days (11 months 12 days). His last league goal was against WAFA at the Tarkwa TNA Park for Medeama, as they won 2-1. He scored the equalizer after Zakaria Mumuni had opened the scoring for the Sogakope lads on 5^th of August last year, a mid-week encounter. James Boadu restored parity for the travelers to hand them a point at the Dormaa Park.

Liberty Professionals suffered their third home defeat in the league after succumbing to the killer instinct and magical touch from Eric Gawu, who scored the only goal of the afternoon. That was their 4^th away win, lost five (5) and drawn one (1) in 10 away matches.

Gladly, we are witnessing some flashes of light at the end of the tunnel with the current league holders Ashanti Gold. They have accounted for their second successive win at home. Generally won three (3), drawn five (5) and lost two (2). They have kept as many as five (5) clean sheets in their last five home matches. Allies on the flip side is yet to win an away match in 14 games. Their last win was a 0-2 victory against BA Stars (18^th July 2015). Emmanuel Osei Baffour scored for the Miners in the second half to enable them pick all the three points.

Match Day 19 Results

Asante Kotoko 0-0 Bechem United

Sekondi Hasaacas 0-1 Hearts of Oak

B. Chelsea 1-0 Ebusua Dwarfs

WAFA 2-1 Wa All Stars

Aduana Stars 1-0 New Edubiase

Liberty Prof 0-1 Dreams FC

Ashanti Gold 1-0 Inter Allies

Techiman City pp Medeama SC.