Nations FC’s Premier League title bid suffered a blow, FC Samartex in cruise control after extending their lead at the top while Asante Kotoko resurgence continues with Karela United jumping out of the relegation zone.
Here is a wrap of Saturday’s matches in the Ghana Premier League played across five venues.
Medeama SC 1-1 Asante Kotoko
Champions Medeama shared the spoils with Asante Kotoko in an entertaining matchday-28 contest at the Akoon Community park in Tarkwa on Saturday.
A goal in each half separated the two sides in Tarkwa as Dr. Prosper Nartey Ogum’s impressive record against Medeama is kept intact.
Steve Desse Mukwala opened the scoring with a thumping header in the 22 minutes before Diawise Taylor scored from spot to level matters.
Asante Kotoko made a fast start to the match and took the lead after just 22 minutes. Uganda international Steve Desse Mukwala maintained a high gravity to head home the opener.
However, the home team held their verve and composure to pull parity after Diawise Taylor scored from the spot kick. Bernandinho Tetteh was brought down – making the decision easy for the referee to point to the spot.
Taylor stepped up and converted coolly to register his debut goal since joining the defending champions.
The Mauve and Yellow will have hoped to make home advantage count, but they failed to do so.
Medeama will be disappointed not to have won. They will feel that this is two points dropped, and will now know that points must be picked elsewhere if they are to make the top-four.
However, the draw is a good result for coach Prosper Nartey Ogum as his side has now picked up four points from two matches in what has been a turbulent campaign.
Aduana Stars 1-2 Karela United
Karela United moved out of the relegation zone with a vital 2-1 comeback win at Aduana Stars on Saturday.
Ibrahim Giyasu’s 73rd minute strike won an important match for the Pride and Passion, who now have jumped out of the drop zone.
Richard Mahama opened the scoring for the home side as early as the 2nd minute before Takyi Welbeck pulled parity for the visitors in the 65th minute.
Giyasu popped up with the second for the Tamale-based side to record a famous win in Dormaa Ahenkro and do their relegation fight a lot of good.
Abubakar Damba’s side are now 13th on the league table with 34 points and now put themselves in a good position of fighting to avoid the drop.
Bechem United 1-1 Heart of Lions
Heart of Lions continued their resurgence with a 1-1 draw at Bechem United on Matchday-28 of the Ghana Premier League on Saturday.
Emmanuel Ofori Sakyi scored first for the home side before Francis Acquah pulled parity for the visitors.
The two teams failed to score again as they shared the spoils at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour park in Bechem.
While Lions remain 17th on the table, the draw is a massive confidence booster ahead of their next home match as they fight to avoid the drop.
FC Samartex 1996 1-0 Accra Great Olympics
FC Samartex 19196 are now seven-points clear at the top of the Ghana Premier League table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Accra Great Olympics at home on Saturday.
Kwasi Fosu scored the match-winner with 12 minutes left on the clock as the Timber giants coasted to the narrow victory at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.
Olympics gave their host a good run for their money before succumbing to the narrow defeat on the road.
FC Samartex have now extended their lead at the summit of the table to seven after second-placed Nations FC lost further ground in the title chase.
With the Aboi-based side now on 52 points from 28 matches, it appears catch me if you can in the title race with six matches to end the season.
Nations FC 0-0 Bibiani GoldStars FC
Nations FC’s Premier League title bid suffered a devastating blow in a 0-0 stalemate at home to Bibiani GoldStars FC on Saturday.
The two teams failed to break down each other as they shared the spoils at the spoils Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
The draw has left Nations FC further down as they now trail leaders FC Samartex 1996 by seven points with six games to end the season.
Confidence in the team appears to have dropped and coach Kasim Mingle must find an antidote to the side’s recent unflattering results.
Nations remain second on the table with 45 points and closely followed by Aduana Stars on 42 points.
