League Reports: Dwarfs Crash Hearts

Dwarfs Crash Hearts Accra, April 17 -- At the Ohene Djan Sports stadium in Accra, Cape Coast Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs dealt Accra Hearts of Oak's desire of successfully defending the 2004 Premier league trophy a great blow. The visitors and new entrants pushed a 3-2 bitter pill down the throats of the defending champions in the opener of the Ghana Telecom league match on Sunday with two early goals. The Cape Coasters playing their first premiership game in three seasons, dominated play with some eye pleasing soccer scoring twice and once through Ekow Ghansah and Amissah Insaidoo Michael in each half to launch their arrival in style. Even though the tempo of the game left little to be desired in the opening minutes, it was a timely scope off the goalline by Daniel Coleman that denied Dwarfs the lead on the quarter hour mark after Hearts "returnee" keeper, Sammy Adjei was left crawling from a back pass. Hearts who played without most of their regular players conceded the midfield to the visitors from the onset making Ghansah's connection from a low cross which gave them the lead on the 34th minute a matter of time. But Adjei revisited his hey days with a splendid save when he retreated and dived to his elastic limit to push to safety a well-executed ball from Ghansah. In between play, it was Bernard Don Bortey who must have pulled Hearts even but he failed to deliver whenever he invaded the visitors' vital area. Just at a time the Phobians seemed to have settled down, Ghansah silenced the vociferous Hearts supporters with a hefty drive into the yawning net for his second goal on the half hour mark. Hearts elevated their play from the recess and inspired by their "Never Say Die" supporters, they fought relentlessly in search goals which proved elusive until newly recruited Anthony Annan, who was making his debut for the club pulled one back on the 62nd minutes with a long range carpet shot from outside the penalty box. Hearts, buoyed by the goal launched series of raids in their opponent's vital area only for Amissah to punish them 10 minutes later for neglecting their rear when he dribbled past keeper Adjei before easily tapping in the ball against the run of play to register their third goal. Kuforidua-based referee, John Atikesse became the final arbitrator with a decision that gave Hearts their second goal when he ruled in favour of a Bortey shot which hit the upright and seemed to have crossed the goalline with only 15minutes of play left. With frustration boldly dominating their play, Dwarfs Ibrahim Fusieni was made to take an early shower when the referee booked him for the second time in the afternoon for time wasting. Not even the numerical strength could aid the defending champions to pull even as great defending from the Dwarf's rear built around Felix Sackey enabled them to stay resolute to the end of proceedings. Power Hold Hasaacas Sekondi Hasaacas drew 1-1 with visiting Power F/C in their match played the Sekondi Gyandu Park. Hasaacas took the lead in the 43rd-minute through Awudu Alhassan with a terrific shot while Charles Asamoah equalised for Power in the 74th-minute. Lions Hold RTU At the Tamale Kaladan Park, Kpando Heart of Lions put a good performance to draw 1-1 with Real Tamale United (RTU) a the start of the GT Premier League match on Sunday.

The Kpando lads, determined to carry the day registered their goal in the first minute of the game through their mid-fielder, Obed Ansah. Ansah who was a toast of the RTU supporters after the match initiated a move from the centre before scoring with a cheeky shot past RTU's goalie, Michael Abu.

From then on the exchanges became balanced till the end of the first half.

Back from the recess, RTU pushed more men up front in attack in search of an equaliser and their effort paid off for them when their attacker was brought down near the Lions 18 yard box and the referee whistled for a free kick.

Jafaru Abdulai, RTU's forward player expertly converted the kick to equalise for the home team in the 52nd minute.

RTU from then raised the tempo of the game but the visitors defended gallantly to ward off all the threats from the attackers of the home team till referee George K. Manu of Kumasi brought proceedings to and end.

After the match, supporters of RTU rushed on their coach, Mumuni Gamel and the Club's acting Chairman, Alhaji Munkaila (Admun) accussing them of not registering quality players and also doing enough to win the game, however the security agencies were quick to save them from any attack from the supporters and whisked the two to safety. Feyenoord pip Hotspurs Swedru, April 17, GNA - Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord on Sunday beat Kade Hotspurs 1-0 in their opening match of the GT Premier League at the Swedru Sports stadium.
The only goal of the match was scored in the 29th minute by midfielder, Danladi Sherif.
The second half became a ding-dong affair with both side's failing to utilize the few chances that came their way until the blast of the referee's whistle for the end of proceedings. Faisal Beat Bofowakwa King Faisal beat Bofoakwa Tano 2-0 in their match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Faisal who started the game on a fast note nearly took the lead in the second minute but goalkeeper Shaibu Mohammed saved Ben Wilson's shot.
They continued to fight for the opener but Sumaila Nyaya squandered a chance, which came in the fifth minute. The player, however, atoned for this mistake when he scored Faisal's first goal in the 27th-minute from a free kick few metres from the penalty area. Bofoakwa counter-attacked but the defence of Faisal made up of Iddrisu Yahaya, Bobie Ansah, Richard Agyei and Shilla Illiasu, made it difficult for the visitors to penetrate.
Faisal brought on Joseph Asamani for Shilla Illiasu who collided with Joseph Doe in the 45th minute while Nana Sarkodie Dwomoh also replaced Doe.
Faisal increased the tally to 2-0 through Osei Kofi in the 55th-minute in a goalmouth melee. Sensing danger, Bofoakwa substituted Amadu Adams for Sam Arthur in the 64th-minute but it did not have any impact on their pattern of play as Faisal continued to dominate.
Bofoakwa had a chance in the 67th minute but Michael Okoh's shot sailed over the bar.
Faisal made a last minute incursion to increase the rally but Osei Kofi's shot was parried to corner by goalkeeper Shaibu. Results of first week league matches The following are the results of the first week GT Premiership matches played on Sunday.
Tamale: RTU ... One (1) " Lions ... One (1)
Swedru: Feyenoord One (1) " Hotspurs .. Nil (0)
Kumasi: Faisal Two (2) " Bofoakwa ... Nil (2)
Accra: Hearts Two (2) " Dwarfs ... Three (3)
Berekum: Arsenal Two (2) " Kotoko ... One (1)
Sekondi: Hasaacas One (1) " Power ... One (1)
Obuasi: Ashgold One (1) " Liberty ... Nil (0)
Tema: Sportive Nil (0) " Okwawu .... Nil (0)