Soccer News of Sunday, 9 May 2004

Source: GNA

Chipsah stuns Olympics

Accra, May 9,GNA - An injury time classic goal delivered by Yusif Chipsah secured a 2-1 victory for Kumasi Asante Kotoko over Accra Great Olympics in a special friendly game played at the nation's Wembley, Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The Black Meteors skipper, who came in as a substitute drove a masterpiece into the Olympics yearning net on the stroke of time after he was set clear with an accurate cross from the right flank.

The encounter was a climax of activities marking the third anniversary of the May 9 stadium tragedy that saw the "Wonder Boys" reducing Kotoko to an ordinary side in the opening minutes of the game and it took luck and agility of goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan to save the League Champions from conceding three early goals.

In the thick of affairs of the Olympics line up were the trio of Kwasi Bonsu, Micheal Ocansey and John Cudjoe whose drives were either saved by the goal post or Alhassan.

The three shuffled their ball movement without blemish and created countless anxious moments for the defence of the 'Porcupine Warriors' built around skipper Joseph Hendricks and supported by the two hardworking Yeboahs, Daniel and Godfried.

When the tide slightly changed, it was the "Reds" William Tierro who set the stadium ablaze when he pounced on a low cross from petit Stephen Oduro who after tearing his markers into shreds unleashed the neat pass unto the unmarked former Liberty star in the 15th minute.

The lead thus changed the trend and unsettled the homesters who conceded the midfield to Edmund Owusu Ansah, Samuel Addo and Kwaku Essien of Kotoko as they emerged the brightest spot of the team with their intelligent distributive play.

Kotoko's newly signed on Coach Hans Dieter Schmidt obviously trying all his players introduced eight new legs into the squad after the recess whilst Olympics brought on Francis Mantey and Amie Quaye to strengthen their attack.

The fast tempo of the game died down considerably as the action was concentrated at the middle with occasional threats at goal by both sides.

However, the equaliser came for Olympics when the "Blues" Paa Joe Kumah who came in for J. B. Danquah capitalized on a misunderstanding within Kotoko's half to displace substitute goalie, Louis Quainoo for the much needed goal with eight minutes of play left.

Olympics exhibited a great stamina after the goal but at a time the game seemed to be heading for a draw, Chipsah made the difference with a classic finish to win the day for the Porcupines amid wild jubilation from their teeming vociferous supporters.

KOTOKO- Mohammed Alhassan/Louis Quainoo, Dan Yeboah, Godfried Yeboah/Mbola Sarji, Issah Ahmed, Joe Hendricks, Kwaku Essien/Kwame Adjagba, Stephen Oduro/Elvis Opoku, Shilla Alhassan/Michael Osei, Sam Addo, Edmund Owusu-Ansah/Yusif Chipsah and William Tierro/Frank Osei.

OLYMPIC - John Adjetey, Ansong Emmanuel, Asare Nyarko, David Kabu, Victor Ogoe, Kwabena Dodzie, Michael Ocansey, John Cudjoe, J. B. Danquah/Paa Joe Kumah, Kwasi Bonsu and Joe Tagoe.