Hasaacas Ladies win Special Cup, with dramatic recovery against Ampem Darkoa

Hasaacas Ladies yesterday came from two goals down to defeat Ampem Darkoa Ladies 3-2 to win the Women's Special Competition staged at the El Wak Sports Stadium in Accra. 

The three-time National Women’s League (NWL) Champions scored first in the 10th minute but referee Joyce Appiah whistled for offside.

Ampem Darkoa handed themselves a huge advantage when they took a 2-0 lead courtesy goals from Ophelia Amponsah (19th) and Mavis Owusu (28th) but the Takoradi-based team, who had suffered two successive losses to the Techiman-based team in the final of the NWL, recovered to literally snatch the title away with goals from Evelyn Badu (38th), Milot Abena Pokuaa (on the 45th) before captain Perpetual Agyekum clinched it with a penalty on the 80th minute.

This final was too close to call as both sides had impressed in the competition, Ampem Darkoa getting this far without losing a game while Hasaacas recovered from a slumpy start to reach the final.

However, it was the Nana Mma, as Ampem Darkoa are nicknamed, who made it count when on the 19th minute Ophelia fired home a long ball which went pass goalkeeper Faustina Nyamekye Owusu.

Another goalkeeper’s error gifted Ampem Darkoa their second goal, Mavis took advantage of the loose ball to tap home the ball.

The Hasaacas goalkeeper allowed a long ball to slip through her hands and Mavis, right at the spot, pounced on it and fired it into the net.

The Dooo Ladies came back into the game when Evelyn pulled one back to restore confidence in the Hasaacas Ladies before Black Maiden’s forward Milot made it 2-2 just on the stroke of the 45th minute.

The second half saw the two sides forcefully trying to take the lead.

Ampem Darkoa probed for more but were kept at bay by the experienced Hasaacas rare, marshalled by Black Queens defender, Linda Eshun.

Having kept Ampem Darkoa in check, Hasaacas confidence grew and just as she had done at other crucial times when it mattered most, captain Perpetual stepped up to score the fifth decisive penalty for her side in this competition.

She had scored the winning penalty in their 2-1 win against Sea Lions in the semi-finals and also against Police Ladies in the quarter finals, but perhaps, it was this final one that would remain memorable.

For a defender, it was an excellent performance by all standards as she ended up as the tournament’s Top Scorer with nine goals, six of which were from a spot kick.

There were also honours for Halifax Ladies’ Constance Osei Agyemang, who was adjudged the Discovery of the Tournament, Grace Asantewaa was the Best Player of the Tournament while Ampem Darkoa goalie, Evelyn Yeboah, was also adjudged the Best Goalkeeper.

Hasaacas Ladies pocketed Gh¢50,000 together with a giant trophy for winning the competition while each of the awardees received Gh¢2,000 as cash prizes and trophies.