Essipong, (W/R) June 14, GNA - Sekondi Hasaacas and Tema Real Sportive on Sunday gave a good account of themselves when they sold high standard football to thousands of soccer fans in their 10 week Onetouch Premier League encounter at the newly constructed Essipong Sports Stadium near Sekondi.
President John Kufour who was among the capacity crowd that watched the match under flood lights had earlier commissioned the over 20,000 capacity magnificent edifice that would host group "B" teams made up of Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Nigeria in the upcoming Ghana 2008. Even though the match could be described as 'duel of equals' it was the home side that carried the day with a hard fought 2-1 win over visiting Sportive.
Fans were kept on their toes for the best part of the 90 minute encounter in which both teams displayed excellent ball control and dribbling ability to the admiration of their fans. Hasaacas Isaac Donkor broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when he controlled a perfect pass by latching onto the ball before delivering a thunderbolt of a shot into the net amid loud cheers.
Sportive took up the challenge and fought back gallantly and deservedly got the equalizer in the 43rd minute through a free kick expertly taken by the captain of the side, Esme Mends in the 43rd minute.
After the recess, both teams made a couple of substitution but this did not change the pattern of play.
Sportive's Kennedy Asamoah was however shown the exit in the 60th minute for a second bookable offence in the "18" of Hasaacas to reduce the fighting strength of Sportive. Hasaacas capitalised on their numerical advantage as they made several incessant moves but could not find the net due to erratic shooting upfront.
In the 75th minute, Freddie Quayson should have put Hasaacas in the lead but the striker shot wide after beating the Sportive keeper. A hard pressed defender of Sportive, Shaddrack Dadzie three minutes later deflected the ball into his own net to register Hasaacas second goal.
The dying minutes of the game degenerated into rough play but referee John Attikese managed to stamp his authority to ensure that the match did not end abruptly.
In the 80th minute, the referee gave Hasaacas J. K. Mensah the marching of orders for a savage tackle on his opponent. Sportive made last minute efforts to clinch the equaliser but their efforts were thwarted by the defence of Hasaacas till the final whistle. 14 Jan. 08
