Boateng brace powers Faisal back into Premier League

Accra, Sept. 01, GNA – A brace from pacy midfielder Prince Boateng was all King Faisal needed to beat Sekondi Hasaacas 2-0 on Friday at the Tema Park to book their return into the top flight of Ghana football, the Premier League after going on relegation.

Faisal was the better of the two sides in the Zone Two Middle League replay encounter as Boateng nicknamed “Killer” lived to his moniker scoring in each half to earn his side the final slot to the 2012/2013 Premier League alongside Real Tamale United (RTU) and Amidaus Professionals.

Both sides settled for a barren draw in the previous meeting 48-hours earlier, which saw them finish the four-Club league with seven points apiece, hence the need for a replay, according to regulations to decide the Zone's representative for the Premier League.

The mach attracted a sizeable crowd as both Clubs who were relegated two seasons ago were seeking to make their re-entry into the elite division.

With no clear cut chance at goal in the opening minutes, it was Faisal who made the real first attempt when a volley from Suraj Ibrahim brought out the best of Hasaacas goalie Joseph Abbey.

The Kumasi-based lads took charge of the game with Farouk Mohammed, Albert Abbey and Eugene Prempeh creating problems for the Hasaacas back-line and it was only a matter of time that the goal would come.

On 35 minutes, Boateng broke the deadlock by connecting home from Suraj's cross from the left to set the Tema Park agog.

Five minutes from the recess, Faisal took the game beyond Hasaacas after a three-man move involving Farouk, Abbey and Boateng gave birth to the second goal. Farouk broke through the Hasaacas defence, fetched Abbey who immediately crossed for Boateng to slam in from close range.

The final quarter-hour belonged to Hasaacas as substitute Joe Agyemang, a former player of King Faisal and petit midfielder Emmanuel Ankobea led raids into the Faisal half, but their search for even a consolation never saw the light of day.

Moments after the blast of referee Franklin Cobbina's whistle, Faisal players joined by ex-Black Stars midfielder Mallam Yahaya went wild revelling in the feat whilst coach Steven Bugri was carried shoulder-high by a section of the fans and players.

Conspicuously missing from the celebrations was Faisal founder and bank-roller, Alhaji Karim Grunsah, who left the stadium at half time after ensuring his charges had got the slot to the premiership.

GNA