GRi Sports News 22-03-99

Accra (Greater Accra), 22 March

Results of the fourth week ABC Golden Lager Premier football league matches played on Sunday.

 Accra: Olympics...Three (3) Okwawu...Two (2)

Kumasi: Faisal...Two (2) Dawu...Nil (0)

Sunyani: Bofoakwa...Nil (0) Hearts...Three (3)

Tamale: RTU...Nil (0) Hasaacas...One (1)

Swedru: All Blacks...Four (4) Ghapoha...Nil (0)

Koforidua: Power...One (1) Goldfields...Nil (0)

Tema: Afienya...One (1) Kotoko...One (1)

Accra (El Wak. Sat.): Liberty...One (1) Dwarfs...Three (3)

Accra (Greater Accra), 22 March 

Accra Great Olympics registered their first win in the ABC premier football league when they beat Okwawu United 3-2 in their fourth week match played at the Accra sports stadium on Sunday.

But Tarkwa-based Class one referee, T. R. K. Attifu, who made a couple of unpopular decisions, had to be whisked to the dressing room by police after the match amidst booing by the angry fans. Attifu gave Oly a controversial second goal in the 11th minute when the whole circumference of the ball had not crossed the goal line. He again worsened the situation when he disallowed two a goal each by either side.

Okwawu, featuring two ex-Hearts of Oak players, William Afoakwa and Mugu Ibrahim, started well and shot into the lead in the second minute. Inside left Douglas Addy dived beautifully to head home the opener from a classic scissors kick by right winger Kwesi Asante.

But the soccer Mountaineers allowed Oly to score two quick goals before the end of the first half.

Oly's play maker Charles Taylor intercepted a long ball, beat his marker and gave a curling through pass to ex-Goldfields player Wisdom Abbey, who shot through the legs of goalkeeper Leonard Moffat for the equaliser in the ninth minute.

Two minutes later after a clash between Taylor goalie Moffat, the ball broke loose to Billy Sulley back-heeled it towards goal but his effort was scooped off the line by defender John Maclean.

Surprisingly, referee Attifu, who was far off, and apparently confused by the shouts of "goal-goal" from the crowd, quickly pointed to the centre for Oly's second goal.

Moffat, who got injured as a result of the clash with blood oozing from his right eyelid, was carried off the field for Mauzu Nkono to take his place.

In the 60th minute, referee Attifu made yet another controversial decision. Okwawu's Boateng Bonsu collided with Oly's defender Haruna Alhassan in a fair tackle in the box but the referee waited for some seconds for the crowd to shout "penalty-penalty" before pointing to the spot. Oly protested vehemently but Attifu stood by his decision. Kwabena Gyamfi converted it for Okwawu's equaliser.

Both teams threw everything into the game for the leader but it was Amui Quaye, who got it for Oly in the 71st minute.

Seven minutes later, Okwawu's key striker Shamo Abbey was shown the red card for a second bookable offence.

In spite of this set back, Okwawu fought hard and scored an 89th-minute goal through Alfred Darko but referee Attifu disallowed it, claiming Darko netted it from an offside position.

Bottom club, Afienya United and visiting Kumasi Asante Kotoko settled for a 1-1 drawn game in their match played at the Tema Sports Stadium.

Afienya took the kick-off and forced Kotoko to concede two corner kicks in the seventh and 11th and minutes but wasted both.

Kotoko, sensing danger, quickly forced the tide in their favour and nearly went ahead in the 13th minute but centre forward Awudu Ibrahim's powerful shot missed the target.

Determined to avoid yet another defeat after losing their three previous matches, Afienya bounced back into action and dominated the game for a greater part of the session but they could not score, ending the first half scoreless.

They resumed the second session more purposeful, shooting from all angles.

It, therefore, came as no surprise when inside right Philip Ntsiful scored the opener for them in the 60th minute.

Kotoko nearly equalised in the 73rd minute but centre forward Mohammed Polo's connection from a free-kick taken by substitute Kwaku Duah was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper David Sharpe.

Kotoko brought on Essuman Dadzie for outside right Ernest Boateng and the change benefited the Kom Ampem boys as Dadzie, against the run of play, equalised for them in the 88th minute.

King Faisal beat Dawu Youngsters 2-0 in their match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

A 28th-minute goal scored by attacking midfielder Kwadwo Anane and a penalty converted by Stephen Amoo in the 33rd minute were enough to secure Faisal the maximum three points.

Dawu earned the first two corner kicks in the sixth and eight minutes but wasted them.

When Faisal took over the attack, they pinned Dawu to their own half and succeeded in scoring the opener in the 28th minute through Kwadwo Anane, who finished off Massaudu Yahaya's pass.

They mounted an incessant attack on Dawu and earned a penalty in the 33rd minute when Kwadwo Anane was brought down in the box as he moved threateningly towards goal. Stephen Amoo scored from the resultant kick.

Faisal should have scored a third goal in the 41st minute when Joe Louis beat an off-side trap and raced into the penalty box but goalkeeper Isaac Zogah, who had a good day, punched the ball to corner and the resultant kick was wasted.

In the 65th minute, Dawu suffered a blow when Nii Darko Ankrah was sent off for a second yellow card offence.

Undaunted Dawu pressed hard for a goal and their brightest moment came in the 69th minute but Samuel Thompson headed a goal-bound shot away with goalkeeper Nicholas Opoku Ware completely beaten.

Visiting Sekondi Hasaacas defied the extreme heat and home support to beat an inexperienced Real Tamale United (RTU) 1-0 in their match played at the Kaladan Park.

RTU kicked off under the instructions of referee E. Bissi but soon lost the control to the determined visitors, who chased every ball on sight.

The first half was uneventful as both teams played a cautious game and failed to utilise the scoring chance they created. RTU made two changes in the half but that did not help them.

Back from the break, it was the Sekondi boys, who proved their determination to carry the day as they pulled their game together.

Making use of their wings, Hasaacas were always the first to get to the ball. No wonder they scored the opener which turned out to be the match winner in the 49th minute.

Right winger Ekow Ghansah floated the ball into the RTU area for unmarked Lawrence Aidoo to beautifully head the ball into the net at the blind side of goalkeeper John Baker.

They continued to dictate the pace of the game with veteran Kofi Abbrey and Justice Appiah pushing their men forward on the left flank but they could not increase their lead.

RTU gained the upper hand and forced Hasaacas to play defensive until hard-pressed Kwabena Boafo handled the ball in the penalty area in the 77th minute. But RTU wasted that good chance as left half back Emmanuel Quarshie's kick  was pushed into play by goalie Raymond Fenny of Hasaacas.

Hasaacas, from then on, packed their defence and kept the RTU attackers at bay till the end.

Accra Hearts of Oak put up a splendid performance to beat Bofoakwa Tano 3-0 in their match at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

Edmund Copson scored Hearts=92 first goal in the 20th minute through a free kick.

Winger Kenneth Sarpong was brought down outside the vital area of Bofoakwa by Joseph Adjoda and Copson, who elected himself to take the kick, planted the ball at the far corner of the net for the opener.

Top striker Usmanu Amadu made it 2-0 in the 46th minute when he beat an off-side trap and fired from 30 metres, shot goalkeeper Losina Ahmed had no answer to it.

Substitute Ben Acquah, who came on for Kenneth Sarpong, sealed Bofoakwa's doom in the 80th minute when he scored their third goal in a goal-mouth action.

Bofoakwa Tano made frantic efforts to score at least a consolation goal but they missed all their scoring chances.

From then on it was all Hearts till Saltpond-based class referee Buckman Yanney whistled for the end of the match.

At Koforidua, Power F/C surprised Obuasi Goldfields with a 1-0 win while All Blacks beat GHAPOHA Readers of Tema, 4-0 at Agona Swedru.

Accra (Greater Accra), 22 March

Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs maintained the top spot of the 16-club ABC Golden Lager Premier football league table after the fourth week matches played on Sunday.