Ghana Premier League
Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals maintained their recent fine form by beating visiting Kpando Heart of Lions 2-1 in their Week 25 Glo Premier League encounter at the Carl Riendorf Park on Sunday.
An inspired second half performance by the hosts ensured them their fourth successive victory whilst the visitors returned to their base empty handed.
Liberty was the better side from the onset but made few attempts at goal. Midfielder Isaac Donkor tested the Lions defence with a long drive that missed target by inches in the opening minutes of the match.
The visitors struggled in search of their feet as on some occasions chased the shadows of their hosts to be in contention.
Liberty’s returnee midfielder, Michael Helegbe was gifted with a fine opportunity but shot at the side net after tearing apart the Lions defence, whilst an indirect free-kick in the visitors’ penalty area was also wasted.
The introduction of Ivorian-import Kevin Kouakou for Guinean Sylla Musa in the second half, however, made the difference for Liberty as the substitute’s surging runs brought pressure to bear on the Lions rear of Emmanuel Anarfi, Emmanuel Ayison, Badu Asiamah and Godfred Rockson.
Twenty-nine seconds into the second half, Awudu Abubakar scored the opener with a deceptive shot that beat Lions goalie Joseph Addo, who was off his line.
On the hour mark, right-back Yusif Ayoma doubled the lead with a thunderbolt shot that left keeper Addo hapless from an ensuing counter attack.
Trailing by two goals, Lions lifted up their game with midfielder Sheriff Danladi leading raids into the Liberty half and in the 74th minute, he reduced the deficit with a spectacular bicycle kick from a move involving substitute Gilbert Fiamenyo, Daniel Bonsu and Godfred Asante.
The game remained a balanced affair but it was the Lions goalkeeper who came to the rescue of his side from conceding the third goal with a fine save of Kouakou’s thunderous shot in the closing stages of the game.
Meanwhile fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko earned a 2-1 victory over visiting Berekum Arsenal in their Week 25 Glo Premiership encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Sunday.
Strongman Ahmed Toure shot Kotoko ahead in the 15th minute when his goal bound shot was pushed into the yawning net by defender Akwasi Acheampong after the striker had displaced goalkeeper Thomas Tuah Asare with a dribble.
Arsenals accepted the challenge and pushed more men up front but the strong defence of Kotoko manned by Daniel Nii Adjei, Fatawu Mohammed, Awal Mohammed, John Kufour and Yaw Frimpong, managed to ward them from causing any havoc.
The visitors, however, managed to pull even in the 56th minute when substitute Nana Poku capitalized on an offensive blunder by Louis Quainoo to hit the back of the net with a low grounder with saw goalkeeper Isaac Amoako sprawling in vain to protect.
The Porcupine warriors, who were determined to carry the day, scored their second goal in the 62nd minute through a penalty which was scored by Nathaniel Asamoah.
The penalty came about when Fatawu was brought down in the box by Osei Bonsu when he was about scoring and referee Charles Dowouna who was on the spot did not hesitate to whistle for the spot kick.
When the match was about six minutes to come to an end, Arsenals Acheampong was sent off for hitting Toure and after the match it was no wonder when referee Dowouna was attacked by the players and officials of Arsenal for claims of bias officiating.
In Cape Coast, Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs deepened the woes of relegation haunted Kumasi King Faisal FC when they spanked them 3-0 in their 25th Week Glo Premier League match at the Robert Mensah stadium, Cape Coast.
Dwarfs who needed the three maximum points to consolidate their standings on the table, made victory certain as early as the 18th minute when they bagged in two quick goals before the end of the first half.
Centre half Kwame Frimpong scored the opener for Dwarfs with a long range shot in the sixth minute with mid-fielder Seidu Bancey increasing the tally to two in the 18th minute through a spot kick.
Back from the recess, Dwarfs continued to pile pressure on their opponents and in the process they earned another penalty kick for Bancey to increase their goal tally to three in the 50th minute.
Faisal from then came into the picture as they entertained the spectators with their crisp passes but their desire to please the crowd and walk the ball into the net denied them of any goal.
In the 65th minute, Dwarfs central defender Stephen Baidoo was shown the red card for a second bookable offence whilst Alias Ankrah of Faisal was also shown the red card in the 73rd minute for rough play.
The game from then became a ding dong battle before the final whistle.
Source: GNA