Ghana Premier League: Kotoko Win, Hearts Draw . . . (read more)

The return of the league this midweek was heralded by controversy in both Hearts and Kotoko and they both needed to win to boost team morale. But who would have thought it would be Bechem who would end the unbeaten run of league leaders Wa All Stars? Elsewhere, teenager Latif Blessing scored twice to shoot to the top of the scoring charts with seven. -- HEARTS 1-1 WAFA Hearts of Oak failed to win their second consecutive league game at the Accra Sports Stadium after they battled to a 1-1 draw against West Africa Football Academy. The Phobians who have been in the news for all the wrong reasons had under fire head coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi naming a strong lineup that included goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye and skipper Robin Gnagne. West Africa Football named Black Stars midfielder Samuel Tetteh and skipper Martin Antwi in the starting lineup. The Phobians started the game in good form and the fans at the Accra Sports Stadium were not disappointed with the first chance coming through Isaac Kumi but goalkeeper Razak Abalora in post for WAFA reacted well to the situation. WAFA also created their first chance through Gideon Waja who is turning out to be one of the highly underrated midfielders in the Ghana League, his shot was on target but straight at goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye. After the first fifteen minutes Hearts of Oak won a free kick that saw Owusu Bempah test Razak again in post for WAFA but the young gloves man was big to the test. That shot blew up West Africa Football Academy with Martin Antwi setting up Charles Boateng  who opened the scoring with a wonderful finish. The goal silenced the hundreds that had gathered at the Accra Sports Stadium in support of the Rainbow club, who have had their fair share of troubles in recent times. Tried as Hearts of Oak did they were unable to pull parity in the first half. The Second half begun with pace and power for the Phobians with Kenneth Okoro being thrown into the thick of affairs to try salvage a point for the Phobians. Razak Abalorah was cautioned for deliberate time wasting while Musah Ibrahim tried a couple of time to unlock the visiting defence. But it was Cosmos Dauda who got the equalizing goal to send the fans into ecstasy with 12 minutes to hit the 90 mark. Black Stars winger Samuel Tetteh was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a scuffle with the St. John’s Ambulance men. But the result remained unchanged with Hearts of Oak picking up just a point from a possible six at home, West Africa Football Academy can however pride themselves in the fact that they have picked up their first away point this season. -- ADUANA 4-0 HASAACAS Yahaya Mohammed announced his return to top form by bagging a hat trick as Aduana Stars romped to a 4-0 win over miserable travellers Sekondi Hasaacas on Wednesday at home. Mohammed on five minutes broke the deadlock by finishing off a sweet pass from Elvis Opoku. His first attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Michael but the former local Black Stars player was clinical from the rebound. Two minutes after the break, Bright Adjei was the architect of the second when he dribbled past the defenders of Hasaacas before teeing up Mohammed to slot home. His third was a cool finish after some ponderous defending by the visitors. Adjei converted a spot-kick to register the fourth goal after Zakaria penalty won. Aduana Stars who made a poor start to the season are beginning to pick up the pieces under Cioaba Aristica. NEW EDUBIASE 1-2 ASHGOLD AshantiGold redeemed themselves after recent stodgy performances after claiming victory in the Adansi derby with a 2-1 win over New Edubiase United. The game travelled 30 minutes before we could see the first blood drawn at the Len Clay stadium when Abdul Wahab Hannan slotted home a short cross from Prince Antwi for Edubiase, the home team. AshantiGold made a quick response to level the scoring just a minute later. Francis Adjei headed home a Fuseini Nuhu cross from left to equalize. Richard Yeboah nearly put New Edubiase United ahead but his effort went wide off the crossbar in the 38th minute. Edubiase goalkeeper Benjamin Mensah stretched to his fullest length to parry away a Dauda Mohammed left footed shot five minutes from half time. James Boadu's free-kick was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Fatau Dauda in the 51st minute. The match winner of the game arrived in the 72nd minute with Anthony Yerful's powerful drive from long distance beat goalkeeper Benjamin Mensah to hand Ashanti Gold SC all the three points. New Edubiase United trek to Kumasi to play Asante Kotoko SC on Sunday whereas Ashanti Gold SC host Hearts of Oak in another epic clash in week nine. -- DREAMS 0-1 KOTOKO Asante Kotoko continued their surge on the log with a hard fought victory against Dreams FC in the Ghana premier league at the Theater of Dreams on Wednesday. Dreams FC slipped to their first home defeat of the season as goal from Dauda Mohammed secured Kotoko a 1-0 win. Dreams FC dominated the first department of the game with 52% ball possession compared to kotoko's 48%. But it was the visitors who left the field all smiles with an advantage, following a goal by Dauda Mohammed and a breathtaking performance from veteran goalkeeper Ernest Sowah. The former Berekum Chelsea goalie made three point blank saves including 1 v 1 against Eric Gawu, after Dauda Mohammed had collected a pass from captain Amos Frimpong and placed a neat strike past hapless Mozart Adjetey in goal, the goal was the porcupines' first on the road this season. The host continued from where they left off in the first half. They huffed and puffed but could not break the resolute defence of Kotoko anchored by Ernest Sowah as Kotoko secured their first away win of the campaign. The victory means kotoko have made it three wins in three games under watchful eyes of interim manager Michael Osei. Kotoko will play as host of New Edubiase on match day 9 whilst Dreams will travel to take on Berekum Chelsea in Berekum. -- LIBERTY 3-1 BEREKUM CHELSEA Liberty Professionals maestro Latif Blessing moved to the summit of the scorers chart with seven goals after his brace in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Berekum Chelsea. The teenager (above pictured) turned on his style to cancel out Chelsea’s early opener with a 36th minute tap-in. After 41 minutes Blessing scored his second to put Liberty in the lead as he paid Chelsea defenders for indecision. Bernard Arthur scored the third goal for the Scientific Soccer Lads with a blistering header. Liberty are now fourth on the table; three points behind leaders Wa All Stars. -- DWARFS 2-1 TECHIMAN CITY Ebusua Dwarfs kept their revival campaign on course with a 2-1 win over Techiman City FC at the Robert Mensah Stadium. The Mysterious Club totally dominated the first half and had goals from striker Romeo Agban and Nicholas Gyan to thank for their second consecutive win home win. Agban netted first in the 20th minute when he profited from a spilled ball by goalkeeper Frank Boateng. After the break, Nicholas Gyan doubled Dwarfs lead in the 64th minute after Bright Luqman did all the hard work to release the former. Substitute Ebenezer Agyepong pulled one back but it was too little too late to cause an upset. The Citizens looked improved in the second and dictated the pace after Stephen Man was pulled out and Agyepong stepped in. The result leaves Techiman City without a win in four travels. -- BECHEM 2-1 WA ALL STARS Bechem United ended Wa All Stars’ unbeaten run with a hard-fought 2-1 win at the Nana Gyeabour Park. Striker Abednego Tetteh scored a double to dent the fine record of the leaders His first was from the spot-kick but Kofi Yeboah quickly equalized with a fine effort. But the celebration for the visitors was transient as Tetteh powered in the second to restore their lead.

Source: Joy Sports