By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
In a weekend where most league matches ended goalless, Hearts of Oak stood out for the wrong reasons – suffering a 0-2 defeat to Heart of Lions. This loss marked the Phobians’ second consecutive defeat in the new Premier League season, with the team yet to score a goal.
Following a shocking defeat to newly promoted Basake Holy Stars in their season opener at the Accra Sports Stadium, all attention was on Head Coach Aboubakar Ouattara to lead his team to redemption in Kpando. However, the result was even more disappointing, as Hearts of Oak fell to a 0-2 loss against Heart of Lions, deepening their early-season struggles.
Ouattara has now led the team in 19 games, out of which he has won only seven, drew three, and lost a whopping nine. In the process, the team conceded 22 goals, scoring the same number.
Two second-half goals condemned the Phobians to their second successive defeat in the 2024-25 GPL campaign. They are firmly rooted at the bottom of the table with zero points from two games.
It took 83 minutes for the deadlock to be broken when forward Nana Oppong struck to give the Lions the lead. Just minutes later, midfielder Ishmael Addo sealed the win with a second goal, leaving Hearts of Oak with no way back.
This defeat marks the first time since October 2009 that Hearts of Oak have lost their opening two games in the Ghana Premier League.
In other league games, Basake Holy Stars who handed Hearts of Oak their first defeat of the season in Accra, failed to make home advantage count in their first Premier League match at the C.A.M Park in Aiyinase, as the game ended 0-0 with Dreams FC.
Holy Stars, fresh from their famous win at Hearts of Oak, were expected to deliver success in front of their home fans; but they failed to glitter as the two teams shared the points, but that one point was enough to keep them in the top four.
Young Apostles FC also drew 0-0 with Nations FC at the Nana Abrefa Nketiah VII Park. The Premier League new boys were handed a reality check after they failed to break down a resolute Nations FC in front of their home fans as the two teams shared the points in a pulsating 0-0 draw at Wenchi.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park, Berekum Chelsea grabbed their first win of the season after picking a point in their first game of the season against Nations FC. It took Mezack Afriyie to deliver a moment of brilliance to score the only goal of the match for Berekum Chelsea in their 1-0 win over Karela United.
Bechem United and Aduana FC also shared the spoil in an entertaining 0-0 stalemate at the Nana Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
Legon Cities FC was also handed a 0-1 defeat at home by Medeama SC. The team lost its first game of the season 2-1 away to Goldstars far away in Bibiane and hoped to bounce back stronger but unfortunately failed to grab a point.
Accra Lions faces Vision FC on Monday while Asante Kotoko vs. Nsoatreman has been postponed due to the latter’s participation in the CAF competition. Similarly, Samartex and Bibiani Gold Stars have been delayed for the same reason.
Medeama now sits at the top of the table with six points followed by Heart of Lions, Berekum Chelsea and Holy Stars – all with four points.
GPL Week 2 Results
Legon Cities FC 0-1 Medeama SC
Becheme United 0-0 Aduana Stars
Berekum Chelsea 1-0 Karela United
Heart of Lions 2-0 Hearts of Oak
Holy Stars 0-0 Dreams FC
Young Apostles 0-0 Nations FC
