Lions hold Liberty

Accra , Dec. 27, GNA - Striker Gilbert Fiamenyo's late strike earned Kpando Heart of Lions a one all drawn game in their Week 12 Glo Premier League clash against Liberty Professionals at the Carl Reindorf Park on Sunday.

The result ensured the Dansoman-based Club remained without a win in their last five matches, serving a bad start for Black Satellites coach Sellas Tetteh.

Tetteh, who took over the reigns of the Club from former Black Star defender Isaac Acquaye barely a month ago, has yet to replicate the magic that saw him guide the Satellites to the ultimate at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt some few months ago.

The encounter started on a scrappy note as both teams laboured in search of their rhythm with Lions slightly on top of possession-wise. On 36 minutes, Latifu Salifu shot Liberty into the lead when her wrong footed Lions reliable goalie Stephen Ahorlu from a Moutawaki Mouhoudi's pass.

The Lions coach, Orlando Wellington, who deputized for Tetteh at the national team, brought on Felix Nelson and Bright Nsiah for Daniel Yeboah and Seasand Agbezorli upon resumption of the second half. The changes appeared positive as Nsiah and Nelson combined effectively with Gladson Awako to raid the Liberty half in search for the equalizer. Awako was a delight to watch and was by far the best performer on the day with his ball control and sleek passes, which made him a tall mountain for his markers.

The visitors pressed on but Liberty's goalie Patrick Antwi came to his side's rescue, with reflexive responses to long drives from Edmund Owusu Ansah and Nsiah.

With no sign of the equalizer coming, Coach Orlando tested his last card by pulling out left winger Isaac Acquaye for Fiamenyo in the closing stages.

The burly Fiamenyo added some bite into the Lion's attacking machinery which kept the host defence boiling with regular raids and it was only a matter of the time that the equalizer would come.

The substitute stunned the sizable crowd at the Carl Reindorf Park with the much needed equalizer with a contender to the goal of the season with his effort in added-on time.

After beating David Kabu in a one-on-one situation, Fiamenyo chipped the ball over onrushing keeper Antwi, who had come off his line for the ball to roll into the yawning net to send the stadium into dead silence.