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Hearts of Oak moved up to the third spot on the Ghana Premier League table after securing a 3-1 home triumph over Dreams FC in a match-day 27 fixture in Accra on Sunday.

Phobian attacker Daniel Afriyie Banieh scored the opener from the rebound in the 4th minute after midfielder Gladson Awako’s shot was blocked.

Midfielder Suraj Seidu doubled the lead for Hearts with his debut goal in the 11th minute when he intercepted a Dreams FC pass and dribbled two opponents to score. Dreams FC’s Agyenim Boateng struck from the penalty spot on the 45th minute mark to provide a consolation prior to half-time.

Back from recess, Dreams FC defender Jalilu scored an own goal after heading in a cross from Hearts forward Benjamin Yorke.

The crucial home victory means Hearts of Oak now have 43 points, 12 behind GPL leader Asante Kotoko, with 7 games to end the season.

Elsewhere in Kumasi, Bechem United could only cut the lead of leaders Asante Kotoko to 9 points after playing out a 2-2 draw at demotion threatened King Faisal.

Samuel Kusi opened the scoring for King Faisal in the 25th minute after finishing home a pass from Enoch Morrison but Goal-King contender Augustine Okrah equalized in the 39th minute to end the first half 1-1.

Back from recess, Emmanuel Owusu gave Bechem United the lead in the 50th minute but just 5 minutes later striker Enoch Morrison provided the equalizer for Faisal.

At the Len Clay in Obuasi, it was a goal fest as hosts AshantiGold gave Berekum Chelsea an unforgettable 5-1 walloping, with 4 goals from striker Yaw Annor.

GPL Goal-King contender Annor gave the Miners the lead in the 11th minute but the visitors equalized in the 23rd minute through Osei Owusu. Moments before half-time, midfielder Eric Esso connected a back pass from Stephen Nyarko to make it 2-1 for the Osono Aboakese lads.

In the second half, AshGold attacker Yaw Annor found the back of the net in the 74th, 85th and 87th minutes to seal a big win for Coach Thomas Duah’s side.

Annor’s 4 goals take his tally to 16, which improves his chances of toppling 18 goals rich Asante Kotoko striker Franck Mbella Etouga on the Top Scorer’s chart, with 7 games to close the season.

Karela United climbed up one spot to the 7th position following a 2-0 home win against Bibiani Gold Stars courtesy goals by midfielder Umar Bashiru and forward Samuel Atta Kumi.

In Tamale, RTU clinched a vital 2-0 home victory over Accra Lions with a brace from defender Rashid Alhassan, and moved one spot up to the 14th position.

Legon Cities remained in the 9th spot despite their 2-0 home win over bottom place Elmina Sharks. Cities benefited from a penalty converted by Michel Otou and another goal from experienced Hans Kwofie.

Hearts of Oak defeated Dreams FC 3-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium to move into third place on the League table.

Watch highlights of the game below;

Ashantigold winger Yaw Annor proved his worth by scoring four goals in the side 5-1 win over Berekum Chelsea in matchday 27 of the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.

His first goal for the miners was in the 11th minute before restored parity in the 23rd minute of the game.

Midfielder enforcer Eric Esso scored in the dying embers of the first half to double Ashantigold’s lead before recess.

After the break, Yaw Annor weaved his magic to score a hat-trick to propel his side to a comfortable win against the Berekum -based club.

Yaw Annor has been in a sublime form this season for the miners. He scored a stunner last week when they defeated Great Olympics at away.

Berekum Chelsea occupies 8th position with 39 points despite suffering a defeat this weekend whiles Ashantigold are 10th on the league log with 38 points after 27 matches.

Thomas Duah and his outfit will hope to maintain their sublime form in order to finish the season at a respectable position.

Hearts of Oak defeated Dreams FC 3-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium to move into third place on the League table.

Coach Samuel Boadu made few changes to the team that defeated Accra Lions 3-0 last weekend. Richard Attah made a return, Benjamin Yorke was handed a rare start and Ansah Botchway was also handed a starting role.

For the first time, Coach Ignatius Osei Fosu sat on the bench for Dreams and named a very familiar lineup. Skipper Abdul Jalilu, Issah Yakubu, Clement Boahen, Maxwell Arthur were all handed starting roles.

After just 4 minutes into the game, Hearts of Oak opened the scoring through Daniel Afriyie. The former Black Satellites skipper was at the right place to tap a rebound into the net.

The Phobians extended their lead in the 11th minute, Suraj Seidu went pass two defenders and curled the ball pass the helpless goalkeeper Augustine Koomson.

Dreams pulled a goal back on the stroke of halftime. Agyenim Boateng converted a spot-kick after Samuel Boateng was fouled by Mohammed Alhassan.

Just minutes into the second half, Hearts of Oak regained their two goal lead, skipper Abdul Jalilu headed a crossing from Benjamin Yorke into his own net.

Dreams improved their performance in the remaining minutes of the game but Hearts of Oak held on to win 3-1 and move into 3rd place.

Former Asante Kotoko striker Eric Kwabena Bekoe has congratulated Franck Mbella Etouga for breaking his record at the club.

The 20-year-old Cameroonian youth star has been in a rich vein of form in his first season at Kotoko, netting 18 times in 21 games for the Porcupines.

What is special about his performance is that, he has netted two hat tricks so far which makes him the first Asante Kotoko player to do so in the Premier League era.

On Saturday, Etouga scored the only goal for Kotoko to defeat WAFA 1-0 at Sogakope – a venue the Porcupines had not won in seven attempts.

His goal breaks 14 years club record held by Eric Bekoe since the Premier League started in Ghana for most goals scored in a single season.

Etouga who is currently the league’s top scorer equaled a record set by former striker and club legend Eric Bekoe on match week 25.

Bekoe held the record for most goals scored in the Ghana Premier League for Asante Kotoko in the 2007/08 season (17) and was equaled by the Cameroonian forward in the game against RTU in Tamale.

However, Bekoe has heaped praises on the Cameroonian centre-forward, backing him to break the 22 goals scored by Ismael Addo in a single season.

”Congratulations my brother a record is been broken and a new record about to be set,” he posted on Facebook.

”After more than a decade you have showcased a quality of a box to box striker into the family it was about hardwork, dedication, determination to serve Krobea have brought u this far keep the fire burning Am happy for u my brother go higher MBELLA.”

In the season 2007/08, with a total of 17 goals in 23 matches, Bekoe was crowned the top scorer of the Premier League and also won the league with Kotoko as well as the Presidents Cup in the same year.

He also netted 10 goals in the CAF Confederation Cup which won him the top scorer’s gong before leaving the Porcupines to join Petrojet in Egypt.

Hearts Of Oak coach, Samuel Boadu has altered his starting line-up that pummeled Accra Lions 3-0 last weekend as they come up against Dreams FC this afternoon..

Boadu has made two changes in his side that beat Lions in the Accra derby ahead of the side’s match-day 27 fixture against Dreams FC in Ghana Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Richard Attah has been handed his first start as he replaces Richmond Ayi. He has been out four almost almost two months after he sustained an injury against Aduana Stars in Dormaa in March 13.

Also, youngster Benjamin York will take over the position of injured Kwadwo Obeng Junior,. He will play alongside Afriyie Barnieh and Ibrahim Salifu in a front-three attack.

In midfield, Frederick Ansah Botchwey will combine with Gladson Awako and Suraj Seidu in a triangle shape.

Hearts Of Oak will be hoping to pick a second consecutive win as they aim to make it into the top four at the end of the season.

Hearts XI vs Dreams FC:

Richard Attah, Samuel Inkoom, Dennis Korsah, Mohammed Alhassan, Caleb Amankwa, Frederick Ansah Botchwey, Suraj Seidu, Gladson Awako, Ibrahim Salifu, Benjamin York, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh

Asante Kotoko forward Franck Mbella Etouga is having quite a season.

The Cameroonian continued with his red-hot form on Saturday afternoon as he scored the only goal in Kotoko’s 1-0 win over WAFA in Sogakope in a Premier League matchday 27 fixture.

His goal means he has scored 18 goals in 23 games in the league, leading the goalking chart — 6 goals above Bright Adjei and Yaw Annor.

The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the most prolific players that has donned the Red and Whites colors, and the numbers back him up. 

Etouga now inches closer to equal the late Opoku Afriyie’s 21 goals scored in the 1981 season to become the second-highest scorer in a season. He had already scored 26 goals in 1979 to emerge the top scorer that season and it is the second highest goals scored in a single season in the Ghanaian league after Bofoakwa Tano’s Dan Owusu 26 goals.

Etouga has overtaken Eric Bekoe, Alex Asamoah and Thomas Boakye on Kotoko’s goal scorers chart. Bekoe scored 17 goals in the 2007/2008 season, Alex Asamoah scored 16 goals in the 2008/2009 season and Thomas Boakye scored 12 goals in the 1990/1991 season to emerge top scorers in the league.

Overall, he is third on the list and could match Opoku Afriyie’s 21-goal tally if he scores a hattrick in the nest game at home to Aduana Stars.

Meanwhile, Opoku Afriyie died on 29th March 2020 at the age of 65 in Kumasi.

Opoku Afriyie made his name in Kotoko as a goal machine having joined in 1974. He won 4 league titles with Kotoko in 1975, 1980,1981 and 1982. As captain of Kotoko from 1979 after the exit of Abdul Razak, he led the team to the Africa Cup of Champion Clubs final but lost to Al Ahly. He led the attack for Kotoko and scored several goals as Kotoko beat Hearts 5 out of 7 matches in the early 1980’s.

He won Ghana 1st Division league Top Scorer award twice in 1979 and 1981. He came 2nd to Dan Owusu of Bofoakwa in 1975 and again to Emmanuel Quashie of Hasaacas in 1980. He was nominated for the 1982 African player of the year by the French Football Magazine.

Afriyie was retired from Kotoko by the then Kotoko chairman Yaw Bawuah, no official reason was given for that decision amid rumours of insubordination and later joined Hearts of Oak in 1984 and helped the Phobians win the league title in his first year and then successfully defended the league title in 1985. He played Hearts for 3 seasons before finally hanging his boots.