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19.05.2003 League Report

Premier Results: Day II

19.05.2003 LISTEN
By GNA

Some results of the Premiere league matches played throughout the country today.
Accra: Okwahu 1 Olympics 3
Prestea: Mine Stars ? Stay Cool ?
Kpando: Lions 2 B.A. United 1
Berekum: Arsenal 2 King Faisal 1
Sunyani: Bofoakwa 1 RTU 1
Tema: Power 1 Liberty Professional 2
The league matches involving Hearts Vrs Hasaacas and Kotoko Vrs Goldfields have been postponed due to CAF encounters involving Hearts and Kotoko Olympics beat Okwawu 3-1 Accra Great Olympics defeated Okwawu United 3-1 in their Kinapharma Premier League match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. Paa Joe Kumah put Olympics in the lead on 29 minutes when he thundered a left footer past Fatau Dauda in goal for Okwawu after he was set up petite, Joe Tagoe. Okwawu tried to even the scores but they appeared lethargic in front of goal as Olympics' skipper of the day, Numo Mohammed marshaled his colleagues at the back to spoil the ambition of the soccer mountaineers.
Within a minute of the second half, Olympics doubled their lead when Andy Pomayie finished off a move from the midfield by toeing the ball past Fatau after his defenders were caught flat-footed.
Joe Tagoe who was enjoying himself in the middle for Great Olympics was ejected for Amui Quaye in the 57th minute and the substitution seemed to have taken the wind out of the sail of Olympics as they conceded possession to their opponents. It was a mater of course when Okwawu reduced the count on 61 minutes when Osei Bonsu headed home after a great run on the right by substitute Thomas Avorgbedor whose floater produced the opportunity.
From then it was all Okwawu United as they pressed, looking for the equalizer but failed woefully to translate their superior possession into goals.
With ten minutes left for play, the Okwawu attack brought the best out of Theodore Atsu in goal for Olympics as he dived and palmed a threatening shot to safety after Elvis Opoku had ghosted past three Olympics players on top of the penalty area before creating a shooting chance for Osei Bonsu.
The Okwawu dominance continued, forcing Olympics coach Emmanuel Afranie to remain on his feet for a long spell, shouting instructions to his boys who responded positively in added time with a goal of class. Okwawu lost the ball in midfield and the Dade Boys countered swiftly as Amui and and Francis Mantey played a one-two, which freed the latter on the right flank. He picked Amui in the box unmarked and sent a telegraph of a pass onto his head and the connection left keeper Dauda helpless.
The third goal sent the Olympics fans into a frenzy of jubilation, as they sang songs in praise of the team, saying, "the difficult days of the team are over and all must look forward to a new beginning." POWER LOSE TO LIBERTY Power F/C on Sunday suffered their first defeat in this year's Kinapharma Premier League when they lost 1-2 to Liberty Professionals in their match played at the Koforidua Sports Stadium. Power who were under pressure from the start of the match surprised their guests when inside left, Dennis Odoom received a long pass in the 8th minute and managed to beat his marker but Kotei Blankson in goal for Liberty blocked his shot. Later in the ensuing scramble for the ball in the goal area of Liberty, centre forward Eric Sefa Boateng got his foot to the ball and blasted it into the net for the opener. Liberty, who had dominated the exchanges from the start of the match, should have taken the lead in the second minute but missed that opportunity when Asamoah Mensah Gyan shot straight at Alfred Mills in goal for Power. After the goal, Liberty took up the challenge and pushed more men upfront and in the 10th minute took advantage of a defensive mix-up by the Power boys and sent a perfect cross from the left flank which was headed home by Gyan for the equaliser. Two minutes after resumption of the second half, the Dansoman boys increased the count when Michael Helegbe sent a powerful shot to the blind side of Mills. In the closing stages of the match Power mounted pressure on the Liberty defence with smallish looking Odoom leading the attack but they failed to convert any of their chances till the final whistle.
Results from other venues are as follows: Sunyani-based Bofoakwa Tano drew one-all with visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) in their premier league encounter at the Sunyani Coronation park.
A goal was scored in each half with RTU getting the leader in the 38th minute through inside-right Gilbert Ayikade, while Abeiku Aikins, captain for Bofoakwa equalized for his side in the 53rd minute.
Bofoakwa who gallantly lost 2-3 to Hasaacas at Sekondi last week attacked from the commencement of the game obviously determined not to lose twice in succession but squandered all the chances that came their way due to poor shooting at goal.
RTU raised their game from the 20th minute but like their opponents they could not convert any of the numerous chances they created until in the 38th minute when Ayikade grabbed the opener.
A wrong judgement by the Bofoakwa boys who thought Ayikade was at an offside position as they looked on for the opposing striker to ran with the ball through their defence to put the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Addai Michael.
In the 40th minute RTU's Abu Issah attracted the referee's yellow card for rough play, but the resultant kick was wasted by Bofoakwa's Kwasi Matthew.
Just before the end of the first half Ayikade, who played a yeoman's game also attracted the referee's yellow card for arguing. On resumption Bofoakwa missed a glorious chance that could have cancelled the goal deficit in the 47th minute as centre forward Tahiru Abdulai's header sailed over the bar.
The homesters effected a change in the 51st minute when Kofi Asiedu replaced Minta Anthony and his inclusion brought good dividends as the Sunyani boys grabbed the equalizer in the 58th minute through captain Abeiku, who delivered a thunderbolt from a freekick to beat goalkeeper Abu Michael of RTU.
In the 60th minute RTU's Alhassan Weah Abdulai's goal-bound shot was beautifully intercepted by substitute Kwasi Owusu of Bofoakwa thus saving his side from a possible defeat. At Berekum, home team Arsenals defeated visiting Alhaji Grusah's King Faisal 2-1 in their clash at the Berekum park.
Power F/C on Sunday suffered their first defeat in this year's Kinapharma Premier League when they lost 1-2 to Liberty Professionals in their match played at the Koforidua Sports Stadium.
Power who were under pressure from the start of the match surprised their guest when inside left, Dennis Odoom received a long pass from in the 8th minute and managed to beat his marker but his shot was blocked by Kotei Blankson in goal for Liberty and the ball bounced back into play.
In the ensuing scramble for the ball in the goal area of Liberty, centre forward Eric Sefa Boateng got his foot to the ball and blasted it into the net for the opener.
Liberty, who have dominated the exchanges from the start of the match, should have taken the lead in the second minute but missed that opportunity when Asamoah Mensah Gyan shot straight at Alfred Mills in goal for Power.
After the goal, Liberty took up the challenge and pushed more men upfront and in the 10th minute took advantage of a defensive mix-up by the Power boys and sent a perfect cross from the left flank which was headed home by Gyan for the equaliser.
Two minutes after resumption of the second half, the Dansoman boys increased the count when Michael Helegbe sent a powerful shot to the blind side of Mills.
In the closing stages of the match Power mounted pressure on the Liberty defence with smallish looking Odoom leading the attack but they failed to convert any of their chances till the final whistle.
Kpando based Hearts of Lions, newly promoted Premier league club in the Volta Region snatched an injury time 2-1 win over Brong-Ahafo United at Kpando. The victory sent the entire Kpando township into ecstatic jubilation with the tooting of horns and a traffic jam.
It was BA United who took an early lead in the 24th minute of the first half through Kojo Owusu, who playing at inside left back-heeled the ball from a corner-kick into Lion's goal.
That goal sent the partisan crown dead silent after several attempts by Hearts of Lions to redeem pull even in the first half fizzled out. On resumption Hearts of Lions raised the tempo of their game and earned a 55th minute equaliser through Yaovi Atikpe.
Both teams threw in their best to win the day but it was Hearts of Lions, who got the upper-hand through an injury time goal by Amenu Komla to the relief of its teeming supporters.
Meanwhile the Kpando District Assembly has constructed a ¢450m inner perimeter fence and three urinals at the stadium with plans to construct a dressing room in future.
Miss Akua Dansua, Member of Parliament (MP) for North-Dayi also presented 100 plastic chairs worth ¢5m for use at the stadium from her share of the Common Fund.

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