Ashgold survive Berkane scare at Obuasi
Ghana's representative at the ongoing Total CAF Confederation Cup competition, Ashgold put up a poor defensive display but managed to beat R.S.Berkane of Morocco 3-2 in the first leg second round eliminator at the Obuasi Len Clay Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors appeared content with the scoreline, banking their hopes on their high scoring home matches to kick out the Ghanaians who are chasing their elimination of a North African team in a CAF competition.
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Left-back Eric Donkor opened the scoring in the 16th minute while Shafiu Mumuni added another on 44th minute while goalkeeper Zouhair Laaroubi gifted Ashgold with the match winner on 59th minute when he pushed Donkor's ball into his own net for the Ghanaians to secure the needed three points.
Ashgold struggled in the first 10 minutes to keep their composure as the well drilled Moroccans used their height and speed to keep them behind the centre line.
They were robust in their attack and tried to frustrate the home team as star striker for the Ghanaians, Shafiu Mumuni, could hardly keep his cool.
The visitors appeared comfortable with their antics and occasional heckling as the yellow shirted Ghanaians failed to find an antidote to their well rehearsed plan.
Ashgold were not threatening enough with their beautiful passing game before a disappointing home crowd.
But defender Donkor brought the mainly VIP fans to their feet with a deceptive long curler from the left flanks in the 16th minute to breath some life into the team.
The Aboakese spirit from the home team came alive as Appiah MacCarthy hit the woodworks 10 minutes later from a free kick as Berkane maintained their frustrating tactics.
Surprisingly as the ‘Miners’ appeared to have discovered their form temporarily, they quickly went back to sleep as Mumuni exhibited lackadaisical approach in the goal area to the chagrin of the sparse crowd.
But just when the criticisms about Mumuni's play soared, he popped up to slot home the second in the 44th minute.
By the start of the second half, the ‘Miners’ had reduced the Berkane side to chasing their shadows as they were on the back foot for a greater number of the time.
But Senegalese Referee Issa Sy, in one of his misjudgements, gifted an unmerited free kick to the visitors outside the penalty box which they capitalised on for captain Mohammed Aziz to head home in the 51st minute.
Hamdi Laachir made it 2-2 in the 57th minute before goalkeeper Zouhair Laaroubi made it 3-2 two minutes later with a gifted ball into his own net from Donkor's cross for Ashgold.