Head Coach of Legon Cities Maxwell Konadu says his side could have killed the game against Kotoko in the first half.
Legon Cities beat Kotoko 3-1 at the Baba Yara Stadium in a Ghana Premier League Week 26 game.
Hans Kwoffie’s brace and a goal from Michel Otou ensured the Royals picked the maximum points to Accra. Mudasiru got the consolation for the Reds.
Konadu who is a former coach of Kotoko says he won because he knows the Porcupines well and how they play.
“Both teams did well, with all due respect to my beloved club Kotoko. It’s a team I know too well and from the initial stages we practiced that we have to come and isolate their full backs. I believe we could have killed the game in the first half but that is football, we go and try improve on our finishing”
This win takes Legon Cities to 8th on the table and Kotoko still lie 1st with Bechem United who they lead eight points set to play tomorrow.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori saved a penalty and converted the final spot kick to ensure Orlando Pirates beat Tanzania’s Simba 4-3 to advance to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals on Sunday night.
Although Pirates went into the second leg of the quarterfinal tie 1-0 down, Ghanaian striker Kwame Peprah found the breakthrough with a header past Simba goalie Aishi Manula in the 60th minute to keep the Buccaneers in the tie.
Peprah, an ex-King Faisal attacker, was withdrawn to the bench in the 77th minute, as his place was taken by Gabadinho Mhango.
It was left to the lottery of penalties to decide the tie, and the shootout began promisingly for Pirates, with goalkeeper Richard Ofori making a fine save to keep out the night’s first spot-kick.
With the spot kicks level at 3-3, Ofori bravely stepped up and converted the final penalty, sending the Buccaneers through to the semis.
Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has given his reasons why he substituted Dickson Afoakwa in their defeat to Legon Cities.
The Porcupines on Sunday suffered yet another defeat when they lost 3-1 to Legon Cities at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Hans Kwoffie’s brace and a goal from Michel Otou ensured the Royals picked the maximum points to Accra. Mudasiru got the consolation for the Reds.
But it was another less than convincing display from Dickson Afoakwa whose performance was met by displeasure from the fans.
The 24-year-old was replaced in the 35th-minute by Mudasiru Salifu who would eventually score Kotoko’s consolation.
Speaking to the press after the game, Coach Ogum stressed that Afoakwa was substituted because he was trying to prevent the winger from the angry Kotoko fans due to his level of performance on the afternoon.
“When you have a player on the field and the audience are getting on the player, you better protect the future of the player than allowing the audience finish him on the field and as a coach as I sit here, that’s what I saw. He has more years ahead of him to play football so I decided that because he himself was not getting things right and then the audience were on him so I had to make sure that I protect his future”
“If you really watch the game, tactically he was not giving us the options defensively and offensively and Attuquaye was moving in there anytime they get the ball, Attuquaye would just drag Nettey in and create that space there meanwhile, when he (Afoakwa) gets the ball, then he gives it out to them and as a player when you give the ball out what you do is you give immediate chase or pressure, he doesn’t give the pressure and they play the ball there. We get the ball, we give it to him and he gives it to the opponent, he’s confused on the field so if you were in my shoes what will you do, you protect the future of the player,” he ended.
Asante Kotoko next travel to Sogakope to take on WAFA in matchday 27 fixture.
Ghana Premier League leader Asante Kotoko suffered a second consecutive defeat as the Kumapem club lost 1-3 to visiting Legon Cities at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
Two goals from forward Hans Kwofie in the 28th and 47th minutes and a 17th minute penalty struck by midfielder Michel Otou were enough to hand mid-table Legon Cities maximum points. Kotoko midfielder Mudasiru Salifu grabbed a consolation goal for the Porcupines with a 41st minute header.
The brace pushes Hans Kwoffie up to 7 goals on the GPL Top Scorers Chart.
It was a proud moment for Legon Cities Coach Maxwell Konadu, who successfully masterminded victory over his ex-club in Kumasi after his side lost 1-2 to Kotoko in the First Round in December 2021.
Kotoko defender Yussif Mubarik surrounded by four Legon Cities players
For Kotoko, the defeat means they could have their 8 points lead on the league log cut to 5 on Monday, if visiting Karela falls to second placed Bechem United, which is yet to lose a game at home. Kotoko’s closest contender, Bechem United boasts of an outstanding home record, having won 10 of their 12 home games this season, with just 2 stalemates at the dreaded Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
Berekum Chelsea moved up one spot up to the 6th position after relying on striker Kelvin Obeng 79th minute strike to inflict a painful 1-0 defeat on 4th placed Aduana Stars in the Bono derby at the Golden City Park.
Defender Vincent Atinga slotted in a 67th minute penalty to hand Medeama SC a vital 1-0 home triumph over demotion candidates WAFA at the Akoon Park. The win moves the Tarkwa based club two spots up to the 3rd position on the league ladder.
The battle of the relegation threatened clubs finished in a pulsating 1-1 draw at the Nduom Sports Complex as Elmina Sharks and visiting Real Tamale United shared the spoils. Victor Aidoo gave RTU the lead in the 5th minute before Elmina Sharks grabbed the equaliser through Isaac Donkor in the 15th minute.
Bibiani Gold Stars jumped one spot up to the 11th position on the table following their 1-0 home win over struggling Eleven Wonders at the Duns Park.
Dreams FC were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting King Faisal in Dawu. Issa Yakubu opened the scoring for Dreams in the 36th minute before Samuel Kusi drew Faisal level in the 44th minute.
Prior to Sunday’s round of matches, Hearts of Oak had stunned Accra Lions 3-0 in an away match and visiting AshantiGold also recorded a slender 1-0 win over Great Olympics in Accra.
15 goals have been scored in 8 games from match-day 26, which has so far recorded 3 home wins, 3 away wins and 2 draws.
At the Dawu Theater of Dreams, Dreams FC welcomed King Faisal FC in their 2021/22 Ghana Premier League match day 26 fixture.
Both teams commenced play with indication of not letting go the midfield battle, however, the Still Believe lads who appointed coach Ignatius Osei Fosu mapped a new strategy to open wide and attack while possessing.
Half an hour went off without several clear chances from the visitors. However, they were looking good and sensational especially with their backline before Issah Yakubu came through with the opener for the home side.
Issah Yakubu tapped in from close range to give the Still Believe lads the opener.
Breaking the deadlock, was entirely Dreams FC day but got caught ajar in the last minute of the first half through Samuel Kusi’s strike.
Scores stood 1-1 before visiting the dressing room.
After the break, both teams kept their composure to avoid opening up for a goal.
Though, few chances were created but could not announce the winner of the encounter leaving scoreline to a 1-1.
All ended with the Insha Allah Boys snatching just a point having gone eight games without a win in the ongoing second round of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League campaign.
Having one goal in their net against the Still Believe lads means, King Faisal have conceded nine(9) goals in their last seven goals, scoring just one thus against Dreams FC on Sunday in Dawu.
Berekum Chelsea beat Aduana Stars in the ‘Bono’ derby in a Ghana Premier League Week 26 game.
The game at the Golden City Park was a fierce one as not only were they playing for the three points but the bragging rights was at stake too.
Aduana won the first leg 3-2 in Dormaa and were hoping to get a good results against their rivals.
Aduana went into the game on the back of some poor results as they had not won a game in their last five outings.
The game was intense but it ended 0-0 in the first half.
The second half started in similar fashion and it looked like it was heading into a draw but Kelvin Obeng struck for Berekum Chelsea in the 80th minute.
That goal proved decisive as Berekum Chelsea held on to snatch all three points.
The results has lifted Berekum Chelsea to 6th on the table with 39 points and Aduana Stars are 4th with 40 points.
Real Tamale United traveled to Elmina to take on dangling Elmina Sharks FC in battle of the survival clash on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors having settled fast into the game at the Ndoum Stadium wasted no time in punishing Elmina Sharks FC.
On the 5th minute, Hearts of Oak SC loanee Victor Aidoo slotted in a very fine pass to open the scores for Real Tamale United.
Deciding to detect the pace and control the game after the opener, had the homers Elmina Sharks holding on play to attack on the flanks with canter.
Real Tamale United FC in a space of two minutes lost focus, leading to Isaac Donkor’s level in the 14th minute.
It was game on at the Ndoum Stadium for both sides.
Nevertheless, no goal came from either side ending the first department with 1-1 draw.
RTU after recess put up a better performance with series of attacks for the second of the day as they were looking forward for all points from Elmina but luck could not shine on them, with all chances going wide.
The FearSome Sharks who were already down, restricted to defensive tactics to avoid conceding in the 15 minutes of the clash.
After full time, both teams shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw on Sunday in the match day 26 game.
The draw still leaves Elmina Sharks bottom of the log with 19 points whiles Real Tamale United are just two points above the relegation zone.
A dismal performance from Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium as they were thumped 3-1 against Legon Cities.
It was a sluggish start from the Porcupines, Legon Cities were aggressively pressing and causing Kotoko problems. As the first half developed, Kotoko took control, but struggled to create anything clear cut.
This changed just moments later as the visitors took the lead from the spot from Michel Otou after Nettey had brought down Jonah Attuquaye in the penalty box before Hans Kwoffie added the second for Cities.
Mudasiru from the bench pulled one back for the Porcupines to end the first half 2-1 for the visitors. Kotoko responded well from this, but failed to convert big chances that could have hauled them back into the contest.
The rout was completed for the visitors when Hans Kwoffie fired home a third and his second on the day after just three minutes into the second half.
Despite back to back defeat, Kotoko still sit at the top of the league log with 52 points, 8 more ahead of Bechem United who play on Monday while Legon Cities climb up to the 8th position with 36 points.
Ghanaian defender Salisu Mohammed has again found his name on the lips of critics after he scored an own goal in Southampton’s 2-2 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League on Sunday.
The 23-year-old centre-back deflected a Trossard through-ball into the back of his own net after making an attempt to intercept the pass.
The ex-Valladolid backliner was making a return for Southampton after he was rested for two Premier League games against Arsenal and Burnley, following a disappointing showing against Chelsea on April 9.
Salisu has become a subject of discussion within the Ghanaian sports media after the youngster repeatedly asked the Ghana FA for some time to focus on his club career following a request to feature for the Black Stars.
The stalemate was Southampton 13th of the season, which leaves the Saints in the 13th spot on the English Premier League table with 40 points from 34 matches.
