Abedi Pele’s Nania FC complete double over Chelsea to win Super Cup
FA Cup champions, FC Nania completed a double over Premier League champions Berekum Chelsea to annex the 2011 Super Cup courtesy a 4-3 win on penalties on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Substitute Evans Omani converted the decisive kick as the second-tier side strolled unto a historic feat.
The victory was the second successive time Nania, who snatched the FA Cup at the expense of Kumasi Asante Kotoko a few months ago, had beaten the League champions.
The Division One side beat Chelsea on penalties during the semi final of the FA Cup and rubberstamped their superiority with the Super Cup triumph after 1-1 full time score.
The match played in honour of the late Alhaji Ibrahim Sly Tetteh, President of Liberty Professionals FC was watched by a sparse crowd, but the attendance had no impact on the output of the Clubs as they displayed a befitting performance to the memory of the devout football icon.
Chelsea, the League champions, made clear their intents in the early stages but Charles Taylor and captain Abdul Basit squandered opportunities easier to score than miss.
Relying on the counter, Nania broke the deadlock two minutes from half time with a thunderous volley through Ebenezer Osei who finished off a three-man move involving David Amewu and Stephen Ackah.
The Berekum-based Club made several incursions into the Nania half upon resumption of the second half but failed to break through the latter’s defence which revolved around captain Lawrence Lartey, Ebenzer Kwao, Abankwah Abraziz and Joseph Tetteh.
Despite the consistent pressure in their half, the Division One side managed to neutralize the attack of their opponents, as Black Stars legend, Abedi Ayew Pele, President cum Coach of Nania issued out instructions on the touch line.
On 79 minutes, the dominance of Chelsea paid off as Basit scored the equalizer by capitalizing on a loss of concentration by the Nania defence with a cheeky chip that beat an over confident goalkeeper Michael Sai.
The game remained balanced with both teams exhausting their substitutions, but the presence of the fresh limbs made no reflection on the score line, forcing the game to be decided via penalty kicks.
During the shoot-out, Lartey, Kwasi Owusu, Eric Tuffour and Omani scored for Nania whilst Ahmed Adams, Jackson Owusu and Gladson Awako were on target for Chelsea.
Nania goalkeeper blew wide just as Berekum Chelsea duo of Agyemang and Sadat Karim put them out of contention for the Super Cup.
Clement Kofi Humado, Minister of Youth and Sports presented the magnificent Cup to Nania’s captain Lartey amidst chants from the playing body and the technical team headed by Ayew.
The Super Cup heralds the new season which commences on Sunday, October 9 at all the League centres.
Source: GNA