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A last-gasp goal by Samuel Arthur handed Elmina Sharks a 1-0 victory over WAFA SC in Week 20 of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League at the Cape Coast Stadium on Saturday.

Sharks went into the match with the aim of returning to winning ways following their 4-0 hammering at hands of Liberty Professionals last weekend.

WAFA were also hoping to make it two victories on the trot after collecting the maximum points at the expense of Bechem United on matchday 19.

The Sogakofe lads commenced the game with sheer determination and went close to breaking the deadlock in the 6th minute.

Justus Torsutsey did all the work on the left flank of attack and teed up a sumptuous ball to  Lawrence Agyekum but the youngster failed to guide the ball home as he blasted his effort over the bar.

Sharks, who were playing home-away-from-home due to their home ban, took hold of the game from there on.

Odartey Lamptey’s men had a glorious opportunity to change the scoreline through Alhaji Mustapha on the 20th minute mark but the attacker skyrocketed his shot from close range.

On the 24th minute, Sharks went close again through a superb free kick from xx.

The hosts again believed to have gotten their opener when Baba Sule struck a well-taken free kick on the edge of the area but WAFA goalkeeper Sabi Acquah Ferdinand made a fantastic save to deny their opponents.

WAFA gaffer Prosper Narteh Ogum made two quick substitutions at half time — replacing A Basit with Sampson Agyapong, and Emmanuel Agyemang for Kelvin Boakye-Yiadom.

The tactical worked in favour of the visitors as they controlled much possession and created so many openings to go ahead on the scoresheet but the resolute defense of Elmina Sharks stood to the test.

In the 68th minute, Eric Asumbonteng nearly turned the match winner for WAFA but his long range drive was parried to corner by goalkeeper Bawa Martey.

Sharks themselves had two half chances to finish the game with a flourish but did not take advantage of the situations.

With the match looking like finishing in a stalemate, Samuel Arthur popped up with a wonderful strike to give Sharks the maximum points.

The result has pushed Sharks to 10th spot with 26 points, with WAFA staying on 11th with the same number of points from 20 outings.

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This may have been the afternoon that top-flight football became too lofty an aspiration for King Faisal Babes, although things could have been worse.

They arrived with mixed feelings as top marksman, Kwame Peprah had returned whilst first choice goalkeeper Adam Jabaal missed the game through injury.

The ‘Insha Allah’ Boys were on the rack for considerable periods, dominated by a AshantiGold side that deserved to win.

The miners tried to break the deadlock on several occasions but goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim was too good to be fizzled out.

Honours were shared with a goalless draw at the Nana Ameyaw park in Techiman.

Ghana U20 goalie Danlad Ibrahim was adjudged man of the match with his impressive exploits in his first start for King Faisal since joining from Kotoko on loan.

Fully-fit danger man Kwame Peprah returned to the starting line up with Amed Alim and Awudu Mohammed getting their first starts for the Green and Whites under the Turkish trainer.

AshantiGold manager, Roman Folz made two changes to the side that beat Accra Hearts of Oak last weekend with Kwadwo Amoako replacing the injured Samed Mohammed in the lineup. Empem Dacosta also paved way for Richard Osei Agyemang who was returning from suspension.

King Faisal came very close to opening the scoring in the 29th minute with Awudu Mohammed shot denied by the woodwork.

The Miners also came close to getting the breaththrough as Owusu Banahene’s effort missed the posts by inches.

Despite the teams playing an entertaining match, neither will likely be happy with the outcome as the single point did not help King Faisal or AshantiGold in their quest to play in the top four or in Faisal’s case, to avoid the drop zone.

A point was no disaster given that context but Kasim Gokyildiz must discover some attacking thrust from somewhere if they are to keep their hopes of playing in the GPL next season.

Hearts of Oak will be looking to rekindle their charge towards the Ghana premier league title when they welcome Inter Allies to the Accra sports stadium on Sunday evening.

The Phobians’ could take another major stride towards winning the ultimate should they see off the Capelli Boys after their painful loss to AshantiGold last week.

The continental club masters are 13 places and 14 points better off than their regional rivals in the premier league table, but have found the Capelli Boys an unlikely bogey side at the Accra sports stadium in recent years.

Samuel Boadu’s outfit are fully aware of the task at hand due to the results between the two sides in the first round, where Inter Allies won courtesy a neat strike from Richmond Lamptey at the same venue.

Victory on Sunday would lift Hearts of Oak to third place on the league log, one point behind second placed Olympics and two points adrift of first placed Asante Kotoko should Karela fail to win against Dreams FC tomorrow.

Inter Allies are having one of their worst campaigns in the championship this term lying on 18th position with 16 points to their name. Nonetheless, The Capelli Boys will be blazing with confidence following their 2-0 victory over in-form Karela United FC last weekend.

Hearts of Oak team News

First choice goalkeepers Richard Attah and Richmond Ayi who have missed the club’s last two games due to slight fitness concerns are expected to be available for selection should coach Samuel Boadu call on them. Midfield dynamo Benjamin Afutu will miss this clash due to accumulated yellow cards.

Inter Allies team News

There is no injury report from the club and so they are expected to parade a fully strong team to face the phobians.

footy.ghpush.com/ Predictions:

Hearts of Oak are well informed of what is at stake as a win here would send them third of the league log and boost their chances of winning the ultimate for the first time in over a decade.

Meanwhile, The Capelli Boys are in danger of losing their top-flight status. However, it is difficult to look past a wounded Hearts team with the GPL title within their grasp.

It may not be classic but we expect the home side to come away with all the three points following their lost to AshantiGold last week.

WE SAY: Hearts of Oak 2-1 Inter Allies.

King Faisal Babes welcomes AshantiGold SC on Saturday to the Nana Ameyaw Park in Techiman knowing that another defeat could detriment their fight against relegation from the Premier League this weekend.

It has been a disastrous campaign for the Green and Whites again, coming on the back of finding themselves in relegation threatened zones since they got promotion to the premier league. Their only survival hopes were boosted when the seasons were shortened and truncated.

Faisal are currently lying on 16th position, 4 points adrift and they need nothing but a win against AshantiGold should they exonerate themselves of relegation.

The Insha Allah boys worked hard slightly in the first round but they are going down in a whimper when the second half of the season resumed with a 3-1 loss to Aduana Stars over the weekend all but underlying how well they have degraded since the resumption.

Kasim Gokyildiz, now managing King Faisal comes up against his former club in his second game in charge after losing to Aduana last weekend.

AshantiGold are in high spirits as they travel to Techiman for the fixture after a good start to the second round of the Ghana premier league. The miners scored a penalty in stoppage-time to beat Hearts of Oak 1-0 at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium last week.

King Faisal team news

Kasim Gokyildiz will be welcoming striker Kwame Peprah back from injury. The talismanic forward has scored 9 goals in 18 appearances for the club this season.

Ghana U20 goalie and Kumasi Asante Kotoko loanee Ibrahim Danlad is expected to keep the post following the absence of first choice goalkeeper Adam Jabaal who got injured in last weekend’s game against Aduana.

AshantiGold team news

Versatile defender Frank Akoto is expected to be fit after picking up an injury against Hearts of Oak last weekend.

Richard Osei Agyemang is also back from suspension.

footy.ghpush.com/ Predictions:

King Faisal were hammered 5-1 by the Miners at the Len Clay stadium in Obuasi in the reverse fixture. The Gold and Black outfit aim to maintain their good run at the Nana Ameyaw Park by beating King Faisal. Meanwhile, the “Insha Allah” lads look to seek revenge and also maintain their course to stay in the GPL.

We say: King Faisal 2-2 AshantiGold