Ghana FA Cup: Edubiase meets AshGold in grand finale
A late strike from Bernard Ofori ensured 10-man New Edubiase United FC beat Wassaman United by a lone goal on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium to reach the finals of the 2011/2012 FA Cup.
Ofori scored two minutes from time from close range to help his club book a date with Ashantigold FC in the final next week at the same venue.
The feat headlines the achievements of New Edubiase United, who joined the Premier division three years ago.
Wassaman United, relegated from the top flight at the end of the current football season, however, have themselves to blame for their lukewarm approach in front of goal in the semi final clash that produced only a handful of scoring opportunities.
The game failed to live up to expectation as both teams displayed an output unlike that of clubs zealous to win the knockout competition.
After struggling in search of their rhythm in the opening minutes, it was New Edubiase who made the first attempt at goal on 23 minutes but captain Moro Ibrahim saw his effort from a free-kick going wide.
Wassaman replied five minutes later when Godbless Asamoah latched onto a pass from Jordan Opoku Mintah, but the former’s shot from the edge of the penalty area posed no problem for New Edubiase goalie Saliu Iddrisu to collect the ball with ease.
On 40 minutes, Wassaman’s burly forward Raphael Obeng also saw his free-kick being palmed away by keeper Iddrisu to the dismay of the countable crowd at the stadium.
Two minutes before the recess, New Edubiase suffered a numerical disadvantage after Nartey Polo was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Obeng, after he was robbed off the ball.
Despite playing the remainder of the game with a man less, New Edubiase matched their opponents in every aspect of the game in the second half that saw no realistic effort at goal, even though it was the relegated team that were slightly on top but failing to take advantage of their chances.
Just when the game was heading for extra time or penalties, Ofori notched home the match winner by sliding past onrushing goalie Alex Kwadwo Tetteh after Basit Adams had put him through to send their vociferous supporters into wild jubilation.
Source: GNA