FootyDream

RTU defeated leaders Asante Kotoko 2-1 at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium.

Watch highlights of the game below;

Asante Kotoko Head Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has blamed individualism for his team’s 1-2 Ghana Premier League loss to Real Tamale United in Tamale on Sunday.

Two avoidable errors in the match-day 25 fixture by defender Patrick Asmah and goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim in both halves, paved way for RTU to secure their two goals, one from the penalty spot and another from open play.

The defeat at the Aliu Mahama Stadium was Kotoko’s third of the season as RTU ended the Porcupines’ 8-games unbeaten run.

“I think they lost their focus on the field. Most of the things that they were doing especially with the ball, were not the things that they were supposed to do. They were too individualistic on the field,” Coach Ogum told Startimes in a post-match interview.

“Most of the players didn’t play as a unit, as a team and that actually affected us. It’s not pressure time. We have to accept the defeat and make sure we stay focused,” he added.

Despite the away defeat, 52 points rich Kotoko, remain 8 points ahead of second place Bechem United, which tasted a 2-3 defeat to relegation threatened Eleven Wonders in Techiman.

Relegation threatened Ghana Premier League side, Real Tamale United have ended the 8-games unbeaten run of Asante Kotoko after recording a 2-1 win over the league leaders at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale.

Ronald Frimpong opened the scoring for RTU from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute and the home side had to make attempts at goal for another 50 minutes before registering the second goal through Victor Aidoo in the 73rd minute. Franck Etouga Mbella grabbed a consolation goal for the Porcupine Warriors, when he struck from the penalty spot in the 85th minute to take his goals tally to 17, five goals away from breaking Ishmael Addo’s 21-year record of 22 goals in the Ghana Premier League.

GPL returnee Samuel Inkoom scored his debut goal for Hearts of Oak with an expertly struck penalty from 23 yards in the 2nd minute against bottom placed Elmina Sharks at the Accra Sports Stadium. The ex-Asante Kotoko and FC Basel right-back was making his second league appearance for the Phobians after his debut against Kotoko on Sunday April 10. However, Sharks equalised in the 28th minute through Michael Asamoah after building a quick counter attack that left three Hearts of Oak defenders arriving late to shore up the backline.

None of the top five teams on the league log won on match-day 25, as second place Bechem United suffered a 2-3 defeat to demotion threatened Eleven Wonders in Techiman. Aduana Stars was held to a scoreless draw by visiting AshantiGold SC in Dormaa while Great Olympics fell to a 1-2 away defeat against Gold Stars in Bibiani.

Medeama SC, which sits in 5th on the league log, lost 1-3 to mid-table Legon Cities. Cities had to wait till the 53rd minute to take the lead through an Abdul Rahman effort. Hans Kwofie struck from penalty spot in the 61st to double the Royals’ lead before Vincent Atingah pulled one back for the Mauves and Yellows from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Two-goal hero Hans Kwofie scored late in the 99th minute to seal a comfortable home win Legon Cities.

Frederick Asante’s 15th minute header gave 10th place Accra Lions a vital 0-1 away win over struggling King Faisal in Kumasi. WAFA’s hopes of escaping the drop zone received a major boost as they bounced back from their humiliating 0-6 mauling at AshGold last week, to secure a 3-2 home triumph over Berekum Chelsea in Sogakope. Michael Zuo, Samson Agyepong and Emmanuel Ofori Agyemang registered their names on the score sheet to give WAFA their first league victory since their match-day 20 win over RTU.

Dreams FC finished their away encounter at Karela with a man sent off as they lost 0-1 following a 25th minute goal. Second half substitute Issah Ibrahim, who replaced Fahadu Suleman, was given the marching orders by the referee following his bad reaction to a blow he received from an opponent.

In total, 24 goals were recorded in match-day 25 of the Ghana Premier League, with 6 home victories, 1 away triumph and 2 stalemates in 9 games.

Cameroonian forward Franck Etouga Mbella has equaled Eric Bekoe’s record at Asante Kotoko after his goal against Real Tamale United in the Reds’ loss on Sunday afternoon.

Etouga netted the consolation for the Porcupines from the spot after RTU goalkeeper fouled him in the 18-yard box.

Despite Kotoko losing to RTU, scoring the consolation goal means the former AS Fortuna striker who joined Kotoko in October 2021 has equalled Eric Bekoe’s record of 17 goals in a league season.

Bekoe, a former Porcupines in the 2007/08 season netted 17 goals to emerge as the top scorer of the Premier League.

The record lasted twelve years but has been equaled by the Cameroonian striker who is currently leading the Ghana Premier League topscorers chart with 17 goals after 25 matches.

Last weekend, the 21-year-old equalled Alex Asamoah’s goalscoring record of 16 goals when he netted against Hearts of Oak.

Asamoah who is the last Asante Kotoko player to win the goal king award in the 2008-09 season netted 16 times that season.

With nine games to go, Etouga is five goal shy of equalling Ismael Addo’s 22 goals.

The clash between Eleven Wonders and Bechem United ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon as the former secured a vital 3-2 victory.

The club based in Techiman today hosted the Hunters at the Ohene Ameyaw Park to fight for points on matchday 25 of the ongoing Ghana Premier League season.

Courtesy of a poor start from the hosts, Bechem United led by an Augustine Okrah strike at halftime.

With Bechem United continuing to dominate the game after recess, the team scored again through Emmanuel Owusu in the 61st minute to double their lead.

Losing but playing with a lot of resilience, Eleven Wonders still managed to turn things around with the help of the massive support from the home fans.

Attacker Laar Ibrahim halved the deficit in the 79th minute when he scored with a fine effort.

With the momentum now on the team’s side, they pushed and scored two more goals in added time, all thanks to Laar Ibrahim who finished the game with a hat-trick.

With the 3-2 win today, Eleven Wonders has climbed to 15th on the Ghana Premier League table.

Defending Champions Hearts Of Oak were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium in their match day 25 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) on Sunday.

The Phobians strike first in the 1st minute through Samuel Inkoom before the visitors leveled through Micheal Ohene Asamoah in the 28th minute.

In the first minute, foward Daniel Barnieh Afriyie was fouled at the edge of the penalty area, Samuel Inkoom scored from the resulted set piece to give Hearts the lead in one minute.

With a goal lead minute intonthe first half, Hearts kept pilling the pressure for a second and in the 12th minute, Salim Adams set up Patrick Razak who cut in but was dispossesed off the ball by the Shark defence.

Afriyie fed on a decent pass , left with only the goalkeeper Joseph Essam to beat but blasted wide his effort.

The visitors were quick to respond through a counter attack, Micheal Ohene Asamoah slotted pass goalie Richmond Ayi to give Elmina Sharks the equalizer in the 28th minute.

Not disquieted by the leveler, Hearts nearly restored parity in the 42nd minute when goalie Joseph made a goal-line save to deny hearts the second goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Razak pushed a through pass to find Inkoom but it’s intercepted for a corner which was headed out of danger.

In the 48th minute, Salim Adams nutmegged his marker, he shot from distance but missed narrowly.

Hearts brought on Agyenim Boateng, Frederick Ansah Botchway and Salifu Ibrahim for Patrick Razak, Salim Adams and Abu Ushau respectively after the 52nd minute.

Coach Boadu’s substitutions brought urgency into Hearts’ play as Ansah and Salifu took control of game.

After 66th minute of action, substitute Salifu sent in a cross but Awako failed to connect well as his half volley went wide.

Within a space of five minutes, goalie Essam pulled two outstanding saves to deny Hearts a second goal. Inkoom shot from a free kick was saved before Awako’s effort was tipped off by Essam.

With ten minutes left to play, the Phobians continued to mount more pressure in an attempt to find the winning goal but Sharks aren’t remained compact at the heart of defense.

The draw keeps Hearts on 6th position with 37 points after 25 games.

WAFA resurrected their Ghana Premier League survival bid with a 3-2 victory over Berekum Chelsea on Easter Sunday.

After last week’s humbling 6-0 loss to AshantiGold, the Academy boys needed quick response

And they were quick out of the blocks at home, grabbing the opener under two minutes.

Michael Zuo scored his second goal of the season after connecting a cross from Sampson Agyapong.

WAFA doubled their lead from the spot before the half-hour mark when Agyapong converted.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty shortly after the break after Konadu Yiadom fouled a player inside the box.

Henry Ansu converted expertly past goalkeeper Osei Bonsu to pull one back but shortly afterwards WAFA regained their two-goal cushion.

Emmanuel Ofori Agyemang netted in the 51st minute.

Late on, Berekum Chelsea won a penalty and it was converted again for their second goal.

Coach Samuel Boadu has released Hearts Of Oak lineup for this afternoon’s Ghana Premier League game against Sharks.

Muntari is still out of the team but Salifu Ibrahim is back and is on the bench.

Abdul Aziz Nurudeen is also out with illness.

MATCH DAY 25

Hearts of Oak vs Elmina Sharks

KO: 3:00pm

HEARTS OF OAK TEAM

STARTING XI:

1. Richmond Ayi
2. Samuel Inkoom
3. Dennis Nkrumah-Korsah
4. James Sewornu
5. Mohammed Alhassan ©
6. Abu Ushau Mohammed
7. Patrick Razak
8. Salim Adams
9. Daniel Afriyie Barnieh
10. Gladson Awako
11. Suraj Seidu

SUBS:

Benjamin Mensah
Abdul Fatawu Mohammed
Larry Sumaila
William Dankyi
Frederick Ansah Botchway
Salifu Ibrahim
Isaac Agyenim Boateng
Kofi Kordzi
Enoch Asubonteng