Sports News of Thursday, 3 July 1997

Source: --

Okwahu Shock Goldfields

Obuasi: Okwawu United kicked Obuasi Goldfields out 1-0 in their match played in Kumasi with a 33rd minute goal through central defender Emmanuel Opoku. By and large, the game looked too friendly to merit a FA Cup semi-final. Goldfields kicked-off and came close to finding the net in the fifth minute but Eben Dadzie blasted off target and earned the first corner-kick in the 27th minute which was wasted. The ABC Premier league leaders made their first change in the 30th minute, replacing Yaw Owusu with Dan Oppong but soon after that it was Okwawu, who came close to scoring when Jalilu Ibrahim's header from defender Vincent Agyemang's cross, missed narrowly. Three minutes later, Okwawu earned a free-kick just outside Goldfield's penalty box. Central Defender Emmanuel Opoku's power-ladden curling shot beat Gold-fields defence wall into the net. Okwawu earned another free-kick very close to the same spot but this time, Opoku's kick hit a team mate for the ball to go into touch for a goal kick. Goldfields pulled out William Hammond for Isaac Quainoo on resumption but again, it was Okwawu, who came close in the 47th minute when Ibrahim's header to a corner-kick, beat goalkeeper Anthony Osei Kwadwo but Oppong cleared it from the base line. Goldfields forced the tide in their favour and in the 62nd minute but Anthony Arhinful hit the cross bar from a free kick. Okwawu took over in the closing stages of the game and made a determined effort to increase their lead which they nearly succeeded on the stroke of full time but substitute Raymond Agyemang's beautiful finishing off hit the side net.