By: Kofi Amoah
[@Milikophy on Twitter]
[Miliky-Amoah Kophy on Facebook]
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 59th
minute goal and personal 8th 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 2nd 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 65th 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, 14th 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 5th 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 4th
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 (18th
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.
