Goldfields Trounce Mozambizan Club

Obuasi (Ashanti Region), 26 Oct.,

Obuasi (Ashanti Region), 26 Oct., Obuasi Goldfields brightened their chances of annexing the African champions' Clubs Cup when they routed Ferroviario of Mozambique 4-0 in the second leg of the championship league match played at the Len Clay stadium at Obuasi today. Goldfields, playing before their pet crowd for the first time in the championship since leaving their adopted home ground Accra Sports Stadium, gained confidence mid-way in the first half to outclass and outscore the Mozambicans who proved a hard nut to crack in the early stages. Ferroviario, who beat Goldfields 2-1 in the first leg at Maputo, were unyielding and forced the Miners to delve into their asenals to be able to achieve this spectacular victory. The victory which sends Goldfields into the finals of the novelty championship was celebrated in style by their supporters who drummed, danced and sang in praise of their idol club. The Mozambicans kicked off brilliantly and momentarily looked like sweeping the Miners off their feet with crisp, accurate and short passes which confused the Ghanaians. Goldfields came into the picture briefly, pushing the Mozambicans back as they earned a fourth-minute corner-kick but the iron-clad defence of the visitors weathered the storm. Ferroviario, in a swift counter-attack, caught the Miners defence napping but goalkeeper Mbombe Wake courageously dashed forward to deny the Mozambicans the leader in the eleventh minute. Five minutes later, striker Joe Okyere, who played on top of the attack, outpaced the defence but shot off target from close range. Goldfields wasted their second cornerkick in the 19th minute. Okyere threw away a good chance in the 20th minute after slicing through the visitors' defence. As the fairly large crowd yelled for goals, Goldfields kept on wasting chances. They put Ferroviario's defence under intense pressure and earned two cornerkicks in the 21st and 22nd minute but wasted both of them. Their persistent effort paid dividend when Okyere shot them ahead in the 30th minute from Anthony Arhinful/Moutsoudjie Kossie's move. With the floodgates opened, Goldfields attacked in bursts but wasted a cornerkick in the 32nd minute. Left winger Kwabena Boateng, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Mozambican defence was carried off the field after colliding with a defender. He was replaced by Kofi Deblah in the 37th minute. Goldfields raised the tally to 2-0 in the 43rd minute through right winger Lawrence Adjei, who intercepted a pass and fired past goalie Dias Luis Barlotes. The first man to receive the yellow card was defender Princeton Owusu Ansah of Goldfields for rough play in the 45th minute. The Mozambicans made two changes in the 47th when wing half Chilaule Artur gave way to Louis Victor and Cumdane Joao Eugenio replaced inside left Jone Celestie. Okyere missed narrowly in the 51st minute while inside right Kone Brahima shot wide in the 54th minute. A minute later Goldfields brought on George Alhassan for wing half Eben Dadzie. The visitors raided the goal area of Goldfields in the 61st minute but failed to score. Okere made it 3-0 in the 66th minute from a pass by Adjei and Kossie completed the rout with a 73rd-minute goal. The second yellow card of the day went to substitute Bentio Antonio Manuel in the 80th minute. Ferroviario staged a last-minute rally for a consolation goal but Goldfields never budged. Goldfields Lineup:- Mbombe Wake, Anthony Arhinful, Yaw Owusu, Princeton Owusu Ansah, Abdul Rahman Issa, Eben Dadzie/George Alhassan, Lawrence Adjei, Kone Brahima/Adjetey Lee, Joe Okyere, Noutsoudjie Kossie, Kwabena Boateng/Kofi Deblah.