Accra: Hearts 1-1 KotokoLeague leaders Asante Kotoko benefited from a questionable 59th minute goal awarded by Cape Coast-based referee Essel Walker to draw one-all with archrivals Hearts of Oak in an emotionally-charged premier league match characterised by some bizarre officiating at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
-- Don Bortey Yusif Chibsah
Sekondi: Hasaacas 2-0 Lions
Koforidua: Power 0-0 Bofoakwa
Bolga: RTU 1-0 Mine Stars
Obuasi: G'fields 2-0 Okwawu
Kumasi: Faisal 1-0 Olympics
Accra: Liberty 3-0 Arsenals (played on Saturday)
Sunyani: B/A. Utd 1-0 Stay Cool
Aside the drama on the field of play, the psychological war that heralded the kick-off was unimaginable.
Afraid of being hypnotised under a presumable Hearts' spell, Kotoko came to the stadium in bits and pieces and when they finally assembled in the dressing room, they used the tartan tracks briefly for the warm-up and only went unto the pitch after their opponents had done so.
And when the referee gifted Kotoko with their equaliser, bagged water (Pure water) and other missiles, were hurled at both officials and players of both teams from the troubled May 9 stand while the plastic chairs were ripped off, re-enacting memories of the May 9 disaster.
Kotoko kicked-off in an unfamiliar jersey - white shirt over black shorts - but quickly lost control to Hearts, who dominated until the half hour mark.. But the tension of the high profile match clouded the beauty of the game, which was further marred by some strange decisions by the Cape Coast referee.
The referee lost control of the game from start, apparently wanting to play it safe by not showing any player the red card even when it became necessary to do so.
His indecision was epitomised in the 59th minute when Yusif Chipsah cancelled a 26th minute leader scored by ginger-haired Bernard Don Bortey for Hearts.
Chipsah shot the ball in after goalkeeper Eben Dida who was brought down was cruelly forced to spill the ball in the six-yard box. Referee Essel Walker hesitated and raised his head to seek an unnecessary confirmation from his assistant number two, Nicholas Dwomoah, who held his flag down. However, after a moment referee Essel pointed to the centre for a goal.
Hearts met the bad goal with a spontaneous protestation and play was held up for 10-minutes during which vexed fans of defending champions threw missiles and ripped off the plastic chairs while the police stood helpless.
Dida who collapsed in the melee could not return unto the pitch and his place taken by Sani Mohammed.
Irked by the goal, which subsequently dampened their (Hearts) spirit, Kotoko took advantage to dominate the rest of the game.
Inspired by Charles Taylor, Kotoko launched a brazen attack, flooded the Hearts' goal area with some threatening moves but the resolute defenders of the Phobians thwarted their effort. Uniformed policemen rushed unto the pitch to give the referee the needed protection while Dida, who at the close of the game had still not regained consciousness, was whisked into a stand-by ambulance to a hospital.
At Koforidua, supporters of Koforidua based Power F/C besieged the field to seek the blood of Referee Stephen Oduro of Kumasi after their league match ended in a goalless draw at the Koforidua sports stadium.
The supporters were accusing Referee Oduro of unfair officiating and if it had not been the presence of heavy police security, the results would have been different.
Bofoakwa had an early chance to take the lead in the 10th minute but the shot from their attackers in a goal mouth scramble narrowly missed the upright.
The early attack by the Tano boys infuriated Power F/C who launched a counter attack and in the 13th minute came close to scoring but messed up in a gaol-mouth scramble..
Power F/C then put pressure on Bofoakwa but all their efforts were thwarted by the defence of Bofoakwa pivoted around centre half-back Stephen Offei .
In the 55th the goalkeeper of Power, Joe Amoateng was called to action when he had to dive full length to fist a shot to corner when the Bofoakwa boys mounted pressure but the resultant corner kick was wasted.
Both teams bought in fresh legs to strengthen their teams but that did not change the trend till the final whistle.
Kwasi Boateng scored from a goal mouth scramble in the 65th minute. But the scores could have been a cricket count if United had been able to utilize the numerous goal chances that came their way including a doubtful penalty awarded them in the 53rd minute by Referee Hamidu Seidu Bomison of Wa.
Divine justice went in favour of captain Ibrahim Nyass and his Stay Cool boys as the penalty kick taken by Frank Adjei was saved by goalkeeper Lugard Tetteh to atone for his earlier lapses in the posts. United missed an early minute goal when the match started when a combination between captain Nana Frimpong and Osman Sakora was poorly finished off by Kwasi Boateng.
Let off the hook, Stay Cool warmed themselves into the game as Samuel Addo, Asamoah Dzifa, George Danso and Tope Fabunmi combined effectively in attack, but the defence of United would not give in, thereby depriving the visitors of any goal.
Samuel Addo was given a yellow card in the 15th minute for kicking the ball after the referee had whistled for an offside against his team. From then, United kept on squandering chance after chance and in the 39th minute Frank Adjei of United also received a yellow card for rough play.
The greater part of the second half saw United on top but erratic shooting cost them.
Both sides made substitutions just before the commencement of the second half but the changes favoured the home team as Kwasi Boateng secured the solitary goal for them in the 65th minute. Stay Cool were not discouraged and fought hard looking for the equalizer but goalkeeper Neequaye Lovelace of United managed to weather the storm till the end of the match.
In spite of the defeat Okwawu United should be credited with superb ball play. Okwahu's goalkeeper Fatau Dauda pulled a number of brilliant saves to prevent his side from going down by a heavier goal margin. After a barren first half in which both teams showed a lot of promises with the miners slightly on top it was Atem who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when his left footed drive beat Fatau to open the floodgates.
Cheered on by the elated fans, Goldfields improved their game and succeeded in increasing the tally when substitute George Eranio after taking a pass around the vital area moved threateningly into the goal area of the visitor before beating onrushing goalkeeper Fatau for the second and the last goal of the match.
In Kumasi, a 90th minute goal scored by Abubakari Yahuza enabled King Faisal to beat Accra Great Olympics by a lone goal in an unimpressive Kinapharma Premier league match.
Olympics, who were all over the field, played a good game but could not utilise the numerous chances they created. Faisal, who in most cases pierced through the defence of the visitors also wasted scoring chances as both teams played it hard ending the first goalless.
A minute into the second half, referee John Atta Kessie of Koforidua awarded a penalty to Faisal when substitute Eric Gawu was brought down in the box. Olympics protested vehemently for sometime and when tempers cooled down, Kwadwo Poku who offered to take the kick missed.
Determined to carry the day, Faisal continued to pile pressure as Olympics warded off all their attacks and in the 77th minute, Kobina Dodzi blocked a goal bound shot from Yahuza as goalkeeper John Adjetey was completely beaten.
When everything seemed to have come to a stalemate, heavens broke loose when Yahuza scored with a terrific shot in the 90th minute.
The game was 50 second old when tormentor in-chief, Tiero converted a spot kick after Michael Helegbe had taken a 50-metre dash, went through a forest of legs was brought down in the penalty area. Liberty were however, robbed of a clean sixth-minute goal when midfielder James Dissiramah beat an off trap, rounded up goalkeeper Justice Quarcoo before hitting the back of the net in what could have been Liberty's second goal.
In fact Aflao-based referee Frank Fudzi whistled for a goal but quickly rescinded his decision after his colleague V. L. Demakpor raised the flag for an offside.
The score line however, was not a true reflection of the game as Arsenals dominated every department of the game mesmerising the Liberty defence with some fluent attacking football, which won the hearts of the scanty supporters at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. What perhaps separated the two was that Liberty took the few chances that came their way while the avid Arsenals strikers lack imagination upfront.
The absence of Liberty's arrowhead Asamoah Gyan and skipper Emmanuel Addoquaye Pappoe, who are on trials in Europe, did not show much on the team's performance as neophytes Michael Helegbe and Felix Bafoe registered their names on the scoring sheet.
Helegbe made it two in the 16th minute after a one-two with Bafoe who raised the tally to three in the 75th minute.
Arsenals' Awudu Ronaldo failed to replicate the great scoring prowess of World Footballer of the year Ronaldo of Brazil fame when he wasted a golden opportunity in the 74th minute, firing across the face of goal with only goalkeeper Yaw Berkoe to beat.
HOME AWAY
---- P W L D F A ... P W L D F A GD..pts
Kotoko 9 7 1 1 19 5 9 5 1 3 12 5 21 41
Hearts 9 5 0 4 16 5 9 6 0 3 12 3 20 40
Arsenals 9 7 1 1 13 3 9 3 5 1 8 10 8 32
Goldfields 9 7 1 1 17 4 9 1 2 6 8 10 8 28
Liberty 9 3 1 5 12 7 9 4 3 2 12 12 5 28
Olympics 9 5 2 2 12 7 9 1 4 4 7 11 1 24
Hasaacas 9 6 0 3 11 4 9 0 7 2 3 12 -2 23
Mines Stars 9 6 1 2 9 2 9 0 8 1 1 17 -9 21
Lions 9 5 1 3 14 9 9 1 8 0 4 19 -10 21
Power 10 3 4 3 4 7 8 2 4 2 4 6 -5 20
R T U 9 5 3 1 10 4 9 0 5 4 2 16 -8 20
Bofoakwa 9 4 3 2 9 7 9 0 7 2 3 12 -7 16
B. A United 9 4 2 3 6 6 9 1 8 0 6 17 -11 16
Okwawu 9 3 4 2 9 12 9 0 6 3 2 9 -10 14
Stay Cool 8 1 4 3 4 9 10 1 6 3 5 15 -15 12
Accra: Hearts 1-1 KotokoLeague leaders Asante Kotoko benefited from a questionable 59th minute goal awarded by Cape Coast-based referee Essel Walker to draw one-all with archrivals Hearts of Oak in an emotionally-charged premier league match characterised by some bizarre officiating at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
-- Don Bortey Yusif Chibsah
Sekondi: Hasaacas 2-0 Lions
Koforidua: Power 0-0 Bofoakwa
Bolga: RTU 1-0 Mine Stars
Obuasi: G'fields 2-0 Okwawu
Kumasi: Faisal 1-0 Olympics
Accra: Liberty 3-0 Arsenals (played on Saturday)
Sunyani: B/A. Utd 1-0 Stay Cool
Aside the drama on the field of play, the psychological war that heralded the kick-off was unimaginable.
Afraid of being hypnotised under a presumable Hearts' spell, Kotoko came to the stadium in bits and pieces and when they finally assembled in the dressing room, they used the tartan tracks briefly for the warm-up and only went unto the pitch after their opponents had done so.
And when the referee gifted Kotoko with their equaliser, bagged water (Pure water) and other missiles, were hurled at both officials and players of both teams from the troubled May 9 stand while the plastic chairs were ripped off, re-enacting memories of the May 9 disaster.
Kotoko kicked-off in an unfamiliar jersey - white shirt over black shorts - but quickly lost control to Hearts, who dominated until the half hour mark.. But the tension of the high profile match clouded the beauty of the game, which was further marred by some strange decisions by the Cape Coast referee.
The referee lost control of the game from start, apparently wanting to play it safe by not showing any player the red card even when it became necessary to do so.
His indecision was epitomised in the 59th minute when Yusif Chipsah cancelled a 26th minute leader scored by ginger-haired Bernard Don Bortey for Hearts.
Chipsah shot the ball in after goalkeeper Eben Dida who was brought down was cruelly forced to spill the ball in the six-yard box. Referee Essel Walker hesitated and raised his head to seek an unnecessary confirmation from his assistant number two, Nicholas Dwomoah, who held his flag down. However, after a moment referee Essel pointed to the centre for a goal.
Hearts met the bad goal with a spontaneous protestation and play was held up for 10-minutes during which vexed fans of defending champions threw missiles and ripped off the plastic chairs while the police stood helpless.
Dida who collapsed in the melee could not return unto the pitch and his place taken by Sani Mohammed.
Irked by the goal, which subsequently dampened their (Hearts) spirit, Kotoko took advantage to dominate the rest of the game.
Inspired by Charles Taylor, Kotoko launched a brazen attack, flooded the Hearts' goal area with some threatening moves but the resolute defenders of the Phobians thwarted their effort. Uniformed policemen rushed unto the pitch to give the referee the needed protection while Dida, who at the close of the game had still not regained consciousness, was whisked into a stand-by ambulance to a hospital.
At Koforidua, supporters of Koforidua based Power F/C besieged the field to seek the blood of Referee Stephen Oduro of Kumasi after their league match ended in a goalless draw at the Koforidua sports stadium.
The supporters were accusing Referee Oduro of unfair officiating and if it had not been the presence of heavy police security, the results would have been different.
Bofoakwa had an early chance to take the lead in the 10th minute but the shot from their attackers in a goal mouth scramble narrowly missed the upright.
The early attack by the Tano boys infuriated Power F/C who launched a counter attack and in the 13th minute came close to scoring but messed up in a gaol-mouth scramble..
Power F/C then put pressure on Bofoakwa but all their efforts were thwarted by the defence of Bofoakwa pivoted around centre half-back Stephen Offei .
In the 55th the goalkeeper of Power, Joe Amoateng was called to action when he had to dive full length to fist a shot to corner when the Bofoakwa boys mounted pressure but the resultant corner kick was wasted.
Both teams bought in fresh legs to strengthen their teams but that did not change the trend till the final whistle.
Kwasi Boateng scored from a goal mouth scramble in the 65th minute. But the scores could have been a cricket count if United had been able to utilize the numerous goal chances that came their way including a doubtful penalty awarded them in the 53rd minute by Referee Hamidu Seidu Bomison of Wa.
Divine justice went in favour of captain Ibrahim Nyass and his Stay Cool boys as the penalty kick taken by Frank Adjei was saved by goalkeeper Lugard Tetteh to atone for his earlier lapses in the posts. United missed an early minute goal when the match started when a combination between captain Nana Frimpong and Osman Sakora was poorly finished off by Kwasi Boateng.
Let off the hook, Stay Cool warmed themselves into the game as Samuel Addo, Asamoah Dzifa, George Danso and Tope Fabunmi combined effectively in attack, but the defence of United would not give in, thereby depriving the visitors of any goal.
Samuel Addo was given a yellow card in the 15th minute for kicking the ball after the referee had whistled for an offside against his team. From then, United kept on squandering chance after chance and in the 39th minute Frank Adjei of United also received a yellow card for rough play.
The greater part of the second half saw United on top but erratic shooting cost them.
Both sides made substitutions just before the commencement of the second half but the changes favoured the home team as Kwasi Boateng secured the solitary goal for them in the 65th minute. Stay Cool were not discouraged and fought hard looking for the equalizer but goalkeeper Neequaye Lovelace of United managed to weather the storm till the end of the match.
In spite of the defeat Okwawu United should be credited with superb ball play. Okwahu's goalkeeper Fatau Dauda pulled a number of brilliant saves to prevent his side from going down by a heavier goal margin. After a barren first half in which both teams showed a lot of promises with the miners slightly on top it was Atem who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when his left footed drive beat Fatau to open the floodgates.
Cheered on by the elated fans, Goldfields improved their game and succeeded in increasing the tally when substitute George Eranio after taking a pass around the vital area moved threateningly into the goal area of the visitor before beating onrushing goalkeeper Fatau for the second and the last goal of the match.
In Kumasi, a 90th minute goal scored by Abubakari Yahuza enabled King Faisal to beat Accra Great Olympics by a lone goal in an unimpressive Kinapharma Premier league match.
Olympics, who were all over the field, played a good game but could not utilise the numerous chances they created. Faisal, who in most cases pierced through the defence of the visitors also wasted scoring chances as both teams played it hard ending the first goalless.
A minute into the second half, referee John Atta Kessie of Koforidua awarded a penalty to Faisal when substitute Eric Gawu was brought down in the box. Olympics protested vehemently for sometime and when tempers cooled down, Kwadwo Poku who offered to take the kick missed.
Determined to carry the day, Faisal continued to pile pressure as Olympics warded off all their attacks and in the 77th minute, Kobina Dodzi blocked a goal bound shot from Yahuza as goalkeeper John Adjetey was completely beaten.
When everything seemed to have come to a stalemate, heavens broke loose when Yahuza scored with a terrific shot in the 90th minute.
The game was 50 second old when tormentor in-chief, Tiero converted a spot kick after Michael Helegbe had taken a 50-metre dash, went through a forest of legs was brought down in the penalty area. Liberty were however, robbed of a clean sixth-minute goal when midfielder James Dissiramah beat an off trap, rounded up goalkeeper Justice Quarcoo before hitting the back of the net in what could have been Liberty's second goal.
In fact Aflao-based referee Frank Fudzi whistled for a goal but quickly rescinded his decision after his colleague V. L. Demakpor raised the flag for an offside.
The score line however, was not a true reflection of the game as Arsenals dominated every department of the game mesmerising the Liberty defence with some fluent attacking football, which won the hearts of the scanty supporters at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. What perhaps separated the two was that Liberty took the few chances that came their way while the avid Arsenals strikers lack imagination upfront.
The absence of Liberty's arrowhead Asamoah Gyan and skipper Emmanuel Addoquaye Pappoe, who are on trials in Europe, did not show much on the team's performance as neophytes Michael Helegbe and Felix Bafoe registered their names on the scoring sheet.
Helegbe made it two in the 16th minute after a one-two with Bafoe who raised the tally to three in the 75th minute.
Arsenals' Awudu Ronaldo failed to replicate the great scoring prowess of World Footballer of the year Ronaldo of Brazil fame when he wasted a golden opportunity in the 74th minute, firing across the face of goal with only goalkeeper Yaw Berkoe to beat.
HOME AWAY
---- P W L D F A ... P W L D F A GD..pts
Kotoko 9 7 1 1 19 5 9 5 1 3 12 5 21 41
Hearts 9 5 0 4 16 5 9 6 0 3 12 3 20 40
Arsenals 9 7 1 1 13 3 9 3 5 1 8 10 8 32
Goldfields 9 7 1 1 17 4 9 1 2 6 8 10 8 28
Liberty 9 3 1 5 12 7 9 4 3 2 12 12 5 28
Olympics 9 5 2 2 12 7 9 1 4 4 7 11 1 24
Hasaacas 9 6 0 3 11 4 9 0 7 2 3 12 -2 23
Mines Stars 9 6 1 2 9 2 9 0 8 1 1 17 -9 21
Lions 9 5 1 3 14 9 9 1 8 0 4 19 -10 21
Power 10 3 4 3 4 7 8 2 4 2 4 6 -5 20
R T U 9 5 3 1 10 4 9 0 5 4 2 16 -8 20
Bofoakwa 9 4 3 2 9 7 9 0 7 2 3 12 -7 16
B. A United 9 4 2 3 6 6 9 1 8 0 6 17 -11 16
Okwawu 9 3 4 2 9 12 9 0 6 3 2 9 -10 14
Stay Cool 8 1 4 3 4 9 10 1 6 3 5 15 -15 12
Copyright © 1994 - 2024 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
