All Stars silence Hearts
Rowdyism by some irate supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak nearly marred an otherwise exciting league clash between the Premier League’s top sides, as a tactically disciplined Wa All Stars side ended the unbeaten run of Hearts with an emphatic 3-1 defeat at the Accra Sports Stadium last Sunday.
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The victory not only left All Stars as the only undefeated side in the league, but also lifted them to the summit on the league log.
But at Dormaa-Ahenkro, Aduana Stars deepened the woes of Kumasi Asante Kotoko with a 1-0 victory which handed the team their third defeat of the season.
Ironically, it was a former Kotoko favourite Yahaya Mohammed who scored the winning goal which sent Coach David Duncan’s side crashing to the bottom spot on the log.
However, all attention was on Accra as All Stars nearly re-enacted their 3-0 drubbing of the Phobians two seasons ago in Accra. The visiting side threw everything into the game with Emmanuel Ocran and Richard Arthur proving a mouthful for Hearts defence men of Robin Gnange, Richard Akrofi and Kennedy Appiah.
All Stars continued to dazzle with some delightful play and went ahead in the 19th minute through Kweku Asuandzi who headed home a sublime cross by s Emmanuel Ocran. But hell broke loose as incensed Hearts fans pelted objects at the referee and his assistants for perceived injustice as they claimed the goal was scored from an offside position. The ensuing confusion led to a six-minute stalemate until calm was restored for the game to restart.
In the 35th minute, Ocran again punished the homesters when he outwitted Gnagne and sent a through pass to Richard Arthur to connect home for the second goal which silenced the home crowd
Wounded Hearts fought back and managed to reduce the deficit five minutes into the second half through Ibrahim Musah who connected home a cross by Owusu Bempah. But any hope of another second half comeback by Kenichi Yatsuhashi’s lads was short lived when All Stars predator Ocran drilled the final nail into Hearts’ coffin in the 56th minute. The attacker unleashed a point-blank shot past Hearts goalkeeper Samuel Akurogu after a goalmouth melee to hand Hearts their first loss of the season.
At the Carl Reindorf Park at Dansoman, Liberty Professionals white-washed defending champions Ashgold with an emphatic 5-1 victory with young striker Latif Blessing scoring twice and assisted in creating two more goals by the Scientific Soccer lads, writes Kwame Larweh.
Edward Ebo Mends opened the floodgates as early as the third minute when he shot past Ashgold goalkeeper Robert Dabo, and three minutes later Blessing beat an offide trap to increase the tally.
Ashgold responded immediately after recess when striker Anthony Yerful rose above his markers to head home what appeared a lifeline.
However, that was all the Obuasi lads could offer as Blessing got his second goal in the 55th minute, followed by goals by Simon Zibo (69th minute) and Bernard Arthur (87th).