League Report of Sunday, 31 July 2005

Source: GNA

Faisal Beat Hearts

At the Kumasi Baba Yara Sports stadium, King Faisal moved to the top of the GT Premier league when they beat Accra Hearts of Oak 2-1 in their GT Premier League match on Sunday.

Eric Gawu scored the match winner through a free kick taken by Ben Wilson two minutes in added on time to break the deadlock.

Faisal who showed their determination to avenge their 2-3 defeat at the hands of Hearts in the first round and went into action in the first minute but their attempt at goal was shot off target by Sumaila Alhassan.

Hearts took over the proceedings piling pressure on Faisal and in the sixth minute they earned a corner kick, but the effort was wasted and Adjah Tetteh was flashed the first yellow card in the eighth minute for rough play.

The visitors continued to probe for the opener and in the 10th minute, Hearts Mohammed Issah clashed with Faisal's goalkeeper Abubakari Kankani resulting in his replacement with Suraju Mohammed.

Prince Tagoe nearly scored for Hearts in the 18th minute after substitute goalkeeper Suraju had failed to make a first time save but the striker's header went off target.

Referee John Atikese nearly marred the beauty of the game when he gave the marching off order to Abubakari Yahuza of Faisal and George Eranio of Hearts in the 30th minute for dissent.

Hearts brought on Samuel Lamptey for Mohammed Hassan in the 38th minute and Johnny Bleedy for Issah in the 45th minute to end the first half goalless.

On resumption of the second half, Hearts scored in the opener in the 46th minute through a penalty kick expertly taken by Dan Quaye who was brought down in the box and had a second penalty in the 52nd minute but the kick Quaye was saved by goalkeeper Suraju.

Faisal from then moved deep into the vital area of Hearts and also had a penalty in the 55th minute for Alhassan to score to bring the sores to 1-1.

Faisal brought on Osei Kofi for Lawrence Kainya in the 58th minute to strengthen their attack.

The two teams played it hard in an effort to collect the maximum three points but it was Faisal who had the last laugh during the added on time to score the match winner through Gawu.