Soccer News of Monday, 3 September 2001

Source: .

Star Premier league 16th Week (Round 2)

 Hearts    3-1  Liberty Prof
Kotoko 2-0 RTU
GHAPOHA 2-1 Maxbees
Bofoakwa 1-0 Goldfields
Adansiman 1-0 Faisal
Hasaacas 0-0 Olympics
K'birem 3-1 B. Arsenals
Okwawu 2-1 Dawu

Kotoko beat RTU
Kumasi Asante Kotoko maintained their unbeaten home record when they beat visiting Real Tamale United 2-0 to bag the maximum three points at stake and to keep their chase on champions and league leaders, Accra Hearts of Oak.

Kotoko opened the scoring through Michael Osei in the seventh minute. The Fabulous boys were awarded a corner and which was beautifully taken by Stephen Oduro and Osei lifted himself above everyone to nod it home for Kotoko.

Isaac Owusu ‘Ninja’ replaced injured Godfred Yeboah in the 24th minute but the change did not affect the pattern of play as each side gave no room for the opponent to manoeuvre.

Both teams resumed the second half full of venom but it was Kotoko who nearly increased the tally through Michael Osei in the 46th minute as his header was denied by the crossbar.

Kotoko however, scored the second goal of the afternoon through Joe Okyere when he connected a rebound.

In Accra, Liberty Professionals were stubborn but could however not withstand the fiery attack of Accra Hearts of Oak who rifled three past Liberty’s reaman as against one by the Professionals.

The wins by the two most glamorous clubs gradually sets the stage for the decider of the stronger of the two when they meet in a fourth week duel at Kumasi on September 16.

Bofoakwa downs Goldfields
Bofoakwa Tano beat visiting Obuasi Goldfields 1-0 in their Star Premier League match played at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Sunday.

The only goal of the match was scored by left-winger Baffour Gyan in the 25th minute.

It was the result of bad anticipation on the part of goalkeeper Rashid Campaore that gifted Bofoakwa the goal and increased their point build up to 23, placing them sixth on the standings. Goldfields remain at the third spot on 28 points.

Campaore who appeared jittery right from the beginning of the match was displaced, giving Bafour Gyan an easy chance to head into an empty net.

Goldfields led by Nana Arhin Duah made the supporters of Bofoakwa Tano sit on tenterhooks right from referee P.S. Okai's signal for the commencement of proceedings as they sprayed fast and crisp passes. The miners, however, could not score due to great saves made by goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan.

Left of the hook, Bofoakwa's Tahiru Abdulai came within scoring range, but his attempt was foiled by goalkeeper Campaore.

Tahiru Abdulai, who played a yeoman's game, also wasted a glorious chance in the 9th minute when he had only Campaore to beat.

In the 12th minute Ebenezer Gyan of Bofoakwa wasted yet another chance to.

Goldfields who were held to a goalless draw by Bofoakwa in their first round encounter played at Obuasi, resumed the second half with renewed vigour.

But try as they did, goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan stood firm and thwarted all their efforts till the final whistle.

Okwawu defeat Dawu at Nkawkaw
An 88th minute goal by substitute Paul Amponsah aided Okwawu United to pip visiting Dawu Youngsters 2-1 in their match played at the Nkawkaw Park.

Dawu was the first to score in the 35th minutes through Baba Sulley who connected Joseph Robinson pass to beat goalkeeper Joseph Aryeetey.

Though Okwawu dominated play in the first half, they had to wait till the 56th minute to translate their superiority into a goal.

Centre forward Osei Bonsu equalized with a feeble shot after latching unto team-mate, John Maclean's pass.

Okwawu continued to pile up pressure after the equalizer, but wasted 77th and 80th minutes’ chances.

Just as everyone thought the match was going to end in a draw, Amponsah netted the match winner in the 88th minute.

Ghapoha up on table
Tema Ghapoha moved a step up the league table to the 13th spot when they beat fellow strugglers, Suhum Maxbees 2-1 at the Tema Sports Stadium on Sunday.

It was two clinical strikes by on-loan Amui Quaye in the first half that fetched the harbour boys the three points.

As early as the first minute Quaye picked up a loose ball, surged forward and rounded up advancing goalkeeper Shaibu Issaka before planting the ball into the empty net for the opener.

Then in the 33rd minute, Quaye went solo, as he meandered through the Maxbees defence and slot home from close range.

Maxbees substituted goalkeeper Shaibu for Kwabena Boateng and the new entrant soon made a blunder when he mistimed his run, but Quaye missed narrowly, denying himself a hat trick.

Asamoah Dzifa scored the consolation for Maxbees in the 75th minute when he capitalised on a goalmouth melee to lob the ball over the head Abukari Kankani.

Maxbees remain on 15 points but occupy the 14th position because of an inferior goal aggregate. They have a goal difference of -21.

Adansiman win at home
A 76th-minute penalty converted by defender Collins Afriyie gave Obuasi Adansiman, a narrow 1-0 win over King Faisal in their first match of the second round Star Premier League played at the Len Clay Stadium.

Perhaps, worn out from the tough encounter against Kotoko last Sunday, Adansiman played without any urgency in their game and allowed the visitors to dictate the pace, coming close to scoring in the 13th, 39th and 43rd minutes.

Adansiman resumed the second half with some seriousness when they brought on Owusu Ansah for Frank Ofori while King Faisal also substituted Yaw Acheampong with Ben Boakye in the 48th minute.

In the 58th minute, Adansiman was presented with a chance but Haruna Gariba shot straight into the hands of veteran goalkeeper Sampson Appiah who was on duty for Faisal.

Adansiman kept their opponents' goal area boiling and in the 76th minute, Awudu Alhassan, who had penetrated the visitors vital area was booted down and referee Solomon Yamoah whistled for a spot kick which Afriyie neatly converted.

In the 80th minute, Adansiman conceded a penalty to the visitors as a hard-pressed defender fouled Ben Wilson, but Joe Acheampong's kick was pushed to corner by keeper Samuel Antwi.

On the stroke of full time, substitute Boakye's nearly scored the equaliser for Faisal but his shot post and rolled into touch.

The two teams now have 17 points to occupy the middle rungs of the standings, but Faisal have a superior goal difference.