AshantiGold yesterday handed Kumasi Asante Kotoko a 2-0 defeat and left Coach Mas-Ud Dramani with a lot of worries after his side slumped to their second defeat in three matches.
The defending champions stormed the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi determined to consolidate their lead on top of the Premier League log, but a goal in either half by Emmanuel Osei and Latif Mohammed handed the ‘Soccer Miners’ a famous home win and cut Kotoko’s lead to just one point.
• Accra Hearts of Oak’s lone goal victory over Amidaus Professionals at the Tema Park yesterday was overshadowed by the surprise presence of dismissed coach David Duncan, who was mobbed by Hearts fans on his arrival and at the end of the match, reports Kweku Zurek.
Defender Owusu Bempah, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, headed home in the second minute to secure victory for the Phobians to ease the pressure on stand-in coach, Ben Adjei, who got his job off to a winning start.
The stadium erupted into a state of delirium when their former coach Duncan arrived a few minutes before kick-off with the Hearts fans, many of who were angered by the coach’s dismissal last Thursday, showing solidarity with the man credited for the club’s revival.
Hearts’ decision to prepare for the game on the synthetic pitch at the Lizzy Sports Complex at East Legon helped them adjust to the playing surface at Tema as they surprised their hosts when an inswinging free-kick was nodded home by Bempah.
Meanwhile, the Amidaus forward struggled to test Hearts goalie Philemon McCarthy as their lead striker, Daniel Awuni, watched the game from the bench.
Awuni replaced Iddrisu Nafiu in the second half but the striker could not find the space required for the equaliser as Nuru Sulley and Robin Gnangne had him well shackled throughout the game.
Tireless Romeo Agban should have doubled the lead as he forced a smart save from Eric Antwi.
• Liberty Professionals suffered an agonising 0-1 loss at home to bottom-placed Inter Allies at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday, reports Peter Sarbah.
Dennis Antwi Agyare converted a 57th minute spot kick after Yaw Clevor pulled down Simon Martey who was in a scoring position, leaving referee Ernest Baafi with no other choice than to award a penalty kick.
Liberty, who appeared to have underrated the visitors, began to mount pressure but were unable to find their target as Michael Appiah missed a clear scoring opportunity in the 27th minute, while Joseph Mensah also messed up with another fine scoring chance.
Agyare made a hero of Liberty goalkeeper Yaw Berko who saved a point blank shot, and minutes later the goal post denied Allies’ Frederick Agyeman a goal after his volley hit the upright.
Last Saturday, Medeama defeated Aduana Stars 1-0 at the T&A Park at Tarkwa to keep their top-four push on course, with Theophilus Anobaah's second half goal handing the home side all three points to move them to the fifth position on the league log.
• At the Kpando Park, Sekondi Hasaacas claimed a rare away win after defeating Heart of Lions 1-0 through substitute Roger Lamptey’s second half goal to lift the Hasmal lads into the 12th position on the log.
• At the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, King Faisal comntinued their impressive form with a 3-0 win against New Edubiase United through a brace from Prince Boateng and Sulley Mohammed’s strike.
Graphic Sports/Ghana
