No change at Top 4
Accra Hearts of Oak’s Portuguese coach, Sergio Daniel Moniz Traguil, failed to inspire Hearts to victory yesterday as his side were held to a scoreless draw by Aduana Stars in the weekend’s top fixture of the Premier League.
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Watched by a sparse crowd, the Hearts faithful were loft disappointed as the Phobians lacked the killer instincts to punish the visiting side who gave the Hearts a run for their money in the second half. It was the second successive home draw by the Phobians under their new Portuguese trainer.
For the first time in two months since his howler handed Asante Kotoko a win in Accra, Burkinabe international goalie Abdoualye Soulama, retured to the posts for Hearts and managed to keep a clean sheet even though his side failed to secure a victory which would have sent the Phobians to the top spot on the log as the top two, Wa All Stars and Kotoko, both drew.
Hearts were very wasteful in attack, particularly new sensation Patrick Razak, Samudeen Ibrahim and forward Cosmos Dauda, who wasted a fine chance to put his side ahead in the 21st minute. He connected a cross from the wings which went straight into the hands of Aduana goalkeeper Joseph Addo.
Aduana captain Godfred Saka, in particular, had a well worked free kick saved by Soulama, while the club’s leading marksman and the league’s top scorer Yahaya Mohammed, failed to hit the back of the net.
• At the Wa Park, Fatau Dauda put up a heroic performance as AshantiGold held All Stars to a scoreless draw. The goalkeeper’s exploits in post denied the host team of a goal after coming close to scoring on many occasions, writes Emmanuel Modey.
In a game dominated by the home side, Ashgold relied on rugged defending to keep the home side in check until the closing stages of the match when Richard Arthur’s goal-bound shot in the 86 minute was parried to corner by Dauda.
Earlier in the 36-minute, the goalie pulled off yet another great save to deny Kwaku Baffoe of a goal.
• Last Saturday, Kotoko held Inter Allies FC to a 1-1 draw which deepened the home side’s relegation battle as they slipped to the last but one position on the log and kept Kotoko in second position, just a point off leaders, Wa All Stars
Bennett Ofori put the Porcupine Warriors ahead in the 12th minute as Michael Osei’s side started the game in a business-like manner.
A long pass from Obed Owusu met Sarfo Gyamfi in the Inter Allies goal area and his connection was blocked by Allies' goalie Osei Kwame, who failed to grab only for a predatory Ofori to tap home the opener.
The home side battled hard and scored a deserved eaqualiser in the 51st minute through a 30-minute thunderbolt by Frederick Opoku Yamoah.
Earlier in the 44th minute, Inter striker Sherif Deo Mohammed grazed the post but the rebound went went off target.