Karela stun Legon Cities for first win of season

Karela United struck in each half to grab their first win of the 2024-25 Ghana Premier League season, defeating Legon Cities 2-0 at the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday.

Giyasu Ibrahim gave the visiting side the lead in the 15th minute and substitute Hadi Mohammed scored on the stroke of full time to seal the three points for Coach James Corbblah’s side.

In a clash of two sides without a win in three matches and rooted to the foot of the table, Karela United took the game to the side team in the early minutes with some crisp passing, possession and hard tackling to take control of play, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

It was little surprise when Karela took the lead when in one of their forays into the opponent's area, Ibrahim trapped the ball and dribbled past two players before firing across the goal area into the far corner of the post leaving Legon Cities goalkeeper, Kwame Aziz, no chance.

Early dominance

Still searching for their first win of the campaign, Legon Cities quickly reorganised and started dominating proceedings but found it difficult to penetrate the iron-clad Karela defence until the half-time interval.

The game remained balanced after recess as the hosts continued to push for the equaliser but it was Karela who created better scoring chances with their tactical counterattacks. The frustration got the better of Legon Cities coach, Paa Kwasi Fabin, who was booked by Referee Reginald Collins for incessant complaints in his technical area midway through the second half. 

Tactical substitutions

The two sides made tactical substitutions late in the match in pursuit of their respective targets but it was the visitors who finished on a high when one substitute, Mohammed, latched onto a loose ball following another dangerous counterattack, rounded up goalkeeper Aziz before firing a thunderbolt from a very acute angle to make the score 2-0 in the 88th minute.

It stayed that way to hand Karela their first victory of the 2024/25 season and top their tally to four points after four games whilst condemning Legon Cities to the bottom of the league log with a third defeat in matches, boasting the solitary point gained in their 1-1 draw with Accra Lions on match day.