FA Cup: Hearts,Okwawu, Dawu & Goldfield for semi-final
Hearts in hard win Champion club, Accra Hearts of Oak yesterday kept their local double dream alive with a 1-0 win against hapless BA United in their FA Cup match played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The uncrowned league champions, however, gave little of their championship form and uncharacteristically wasted countless chances with Emmanuel Osei Kuffour being the worst culprit.
Kuffour’s woes started in the 26th minute when he hit the upright from a penalty spot after BA United’s Daniel Oppong had handled the ball in the box.
From then on, it was a drama of near misses by the Phobians, who inspite of the purity of their attack, failed to make any of their moves count.
In the 42nd minute, Emmanuel Donkor became the saviour when he pounced on a rebound from a Hearts freekick outside the ball and expertly slotted it behind goalkeeper Sampson Tetteh.
The second half saw an improved performance from the Phobians but all their raids into the BA United goal area were handled skilfully by the defenders.
Hearts nearly got their second goal in the 54th minute through an intelligent 20 metre drive by Adjah Tetteh but goalkeeper Sampson Tetteh was again on hand to deny them the chance.
With Hearts attacking in droves, BA United capitalised on their vulnerability in the rear but disappointingly wasted all their strikes in front of goal to the relief of the Phobians. Okwawu pip Ghapoha SOCCER Mountaineers, Okwawu United yesterday pipped Tema Ghapoha 1-0 to qualify for the semi-finals of the ABC knock-out competition. The match was played on a soggy pitch at Nkawkaw.
After playing a goalless first half, Okwawu United proved more determined to carry the day and broke the stalemate when substitute Kwasi Kyeremateng headed home beautifully from a perfect free-kick taken by dependable defender, John Maclean in the 74th minute.
The goal came after Okwawu had piled up pressure and made series of incursions into the opponents’ territory. Goldfields qualify for semi-final OBUASI Goldfields yesterday sailed into the semi-final berth of the ABC/FA Cup competition when they pipped visiting Liberty Professionals 1-0 at the Len Clay Stadium.
The lone goal came from the boot of substitute Momo Wandel after Goldfields mounted a siege in the visitors vital’ area.
In the 39th minute, a penalty awarded Liberty was wasted by Albert Neequaye.
The second half of the game saw both teams making some changes but it was Goldfields’ Momo who scored in the 58th minute.
The goal ignited the visitors who lifted their game and pinned the Miners to their own half but wasted a 76th minute chance that came their way.
When Maclean shot from the right flank, Kyeremateng’s header beat former Black Stars’ keeper Simon Addo.
After this goal, Ghapoha made two changes bringing in Mustapha Ali and John Ainoo for Ben Neequaye and Hope Doe to improve their attacking machinery but Okwawu defenders of Seth Osei Wire, Edward Akwei, John Maclean and Robert Kingston and substitute Ishmaial Iddrisu stood firm. Dawu shock Faisal DAWU Youngsters yesterday shocked Alhaji Grunsah’s King Faisal with a decisive 2-1 win in their ABC/FA Cup competition played at the Kumasi Stadium.
It was one match that King Faisal should have won by a wide goal margin but lack of imagination upfront cost them the match. By that defeat, King Faisal’s hope of going to Africa next year now seems to be a pipe dream.
Dawu opened the scores in the 28th minute through midfielder Osei Kofi against the run of play.
Dawu increased the tally in the 64th minute through John Plange with a low grounder which surprisingly beat Opoku Ware.
Four minutes later, Hans Frimpong reduced the tally for Faisal after a solo effort.