Soccer News of Thursday, 9 August 2001

Source: .

Star Premier league 14th Week

 Maxbee      0-4  Kotoko 
Dawu 0-1 Hearts
Olympics 1-1 Okwawu
Adansiman 2-0 Hasaacas
B. Arsenals 1-0 GHAPOHA FC
Bofoakwa 1-0 RTU
Playing on Thursday, August 9
Accra: Liberty vs. Goldfields

Olympics draw again
Accra Great Olympics' inconsistency continued when they were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Okwawu United in the penultimate match of the first round of the Star Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

In a goalless first half characterised by as many as 27 infringements, two cautions and some bizarre refereeing from class one referee E.M. Alhassan, spectators still had their money's worth as both teams gave a good account of themselves.

Olympics were the first to face the referee's strange judgement when in the 8th minute, he waved play on after Michael Asante, who was moving threateningly in the box of the Okwawu, was impeded just before he could deliver the final ball.

Okwawu nearly went ahead in the 46th minute when Ernest Boateng was put through but goalkeeper Bismark Nyarko's decisive tackle prevented him from causing any harm.

The first goal came in the 61st minute when Amoako deflected a shot from Francis Martey to wrong-foot Mauzu Nkono in post for Okwawu.

Urged on by their fans, Okwawu responded by bringing on Richard Mireku for Ernest Boateng in the 78 minute to add more bite to their striking force.

In the 80th minute, Okwawu had their equaliser when Robert Kingston threaded in a shot through from a crowded goalmouth to beat goalkeeper Nyarko.

RTU beaten at Sunyani
A 90th minute goal by substitute George Yamoah of Bofoakwa Tano enabled his side to beat visiting Real Tamale United 1-0 in their match played at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

Yamoah took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to score the only goal of the match.

RTU protested against the goal, alleging it was scored after regulation time. Play was held up for some time after the goal as supporters of RTU besieged the pitch.

Policemen on duty had a hectic time securing referee Osborn Boamah Darko of Berekum and his assistants, Ebenezer Batsa and Thomas Amoh, both from Sunyani from the wrath of the aggrieved fans.

In another match played at the Berekum Park, Arsenals beat Tema Ghapoha 1-0. Michael Acheampong scored the only goal in the fifth minute.

The result leaves Ghapoha at the bottom of the table with eight points.

Adansiman win at home
Obuasi Adansiman played an improved game to beat visiting Sekondi Hasaacas 2-0 in their match played at the Len Clay Stadium and move away from the relegation zone.

Adansiman shot into the lead in the fifth minute through hard working Isaac Asare.

Demoralised by the early goal, the visitors resorted to hard tackles, which led to the sending off of Alhassan Haruna in the 33rd minute when he hacked down Asare.

The homers took advantage of their numerical strength to increase the tally to two in the 38th minute when intelligent Alfred Arthur sneaked through an offside trap to connect a free kick past goalkeeper Owusu Banahene.

Kotoko in massive win at Koforidua
Koforidua based Maxbees were on Wednesday humiliated at their own backyard by Kumasi Asante Kotoko who posted them 4-0 beating in their Star Premier League Match played at the Koforidua Sports Stadium. The result leaves Kotoko on top of the standings with 32 points.

Kotoko started the game the more composed side and invaded the half of Maxbees. They earned a free kick outside the penalty box in the 10th minute and skipper Godwin Ablordey converted it for the opener.

Aziz Ansah, playing at right full back position for Kotoko scored the second goal in the 29th minute when he won the ball in his own half and meandered through the players of Maxbees into their goal area before outpacing onrushing goalkeeper Sammy Nartey.

Kotoko increased their tally to three in the 33rd minute through Joe Luis when he received a pass from Shilla Alhassan and turned beautifully to slot the ball into the net.

Shilla Alhassan who contributed all the goals of Kotoko scored a personal one in the 51st minute to raise the tally to four.

The jubilant porcupine warriors' supporters turned the stadium into the venue of a carnival as they danced to brass bands music.

Shilla Alhassan nearly made it five for Kotoko but his shot in front of goal went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Nartey.

Faisal pick three points at home
King Faisal beat Asuom Kwaebibirem 1-0 in their mid-week Star Premier League encounter at the Kumasi sports stadium on Wednesday. Kwabena Opoku scored the only goal in the 35th minute.

Faisal nearly made it 2-0 but a goal-bound shot by Frank Osei was scooped from the goalline by defender Stephen Adjei in the 46th minute after goalkeeper Theodore Atsu had been displaced.

Faisal brought in Joe Agyeman and Abubakari Yahuza for Nuru Ahmed and Ben Wilson in the 58th and 71st minutes respectively to strengthen the attacking machinery.

Kwaebibirem also substituted Paul Ofori for Stephen Adjei in the 67th minute but the changes went in favour of Faisal who continued bombarding the defensive third of Kwaebibirem but the defenders of the visitors fought gallantly until class one referee Osan Quaye of Accra whistled for the end of the proceedings.

Hearts in a slim win
Accra Hearts of Oak beat Dawu Youngsters 1-0 in their Star Premier League played at Dawu.

Hearts scored their only goal in the 11th minute when Dawu's defender Joseph Robinson, in an attempt to clear Hearts’ Charles Taylor's goal-bound shot, misdirected it into his own net, displacing goalkeeper Anthony Amoaful.

Though, Hearts dominated a greater part of the exchanges, they failed to take advantage of the many goal-scoring chances that came their way including a 49th minute penalty.

Ishmael Addo wasted the kick after Don Bortey was brought down in the penalty area by hard-pressed defender Mark Otoo.

Two minutes later, Hearts had another opportunity when Taylor, Addo and Bortey beat an off side trap but with only goalkeeper Amoaful to beat, they froze in front of goal only for the Dawu defence men to recover.

Dawu technical men exhausted their three substitutions in the second half but could not find an antidote to the Hearts defence.