Relegation battle down to the wire as Ashgold win league

Relegation battle in the First Capital Plus Premier League will be going down to the wire after the relegation-threatened clubs including Bechem United, Accra Great Olympics and Medeama SC failed to pick up the maximum points Sunday.

On a day that AshantiGold clinched their fourth Premier League title after a 1-0 home win over WAFA at Obuasi, Olympics left the Kpando Park badly buised after losing 0-2 to Heart of Lions to slip down the league log just as Medeama SC were beaten by Wa All Stars 2-0, but Bechem managed to split points with Inter Allies at the Tema Park.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s 1-0 win against Sekondi Hasaacas at Essipon elevated the defending champions from the 15th position to the 10th position, putting pressure on Olympics, Medeama and Bechem who must win their last matches at all cost to determine their fate in the elite league next season.

Troubled Kotoko needed a strike from Ivorian striker, Ahmed Toure, to ensure David Duncan’s side walked away with the maximum points, after his late goal stunned Hasaacas who fought hard, including denying Kokoko a goal from a spot kick earlier in the game.

But the story was different in the nation’s capital, Accra, where uninspiring Hearts of Oak managed to beat Berekum Chelsea 3-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium in a game filled with drama.

Thomas Abbey, Emmanuel Hayford and Robin Gnagne scored for Hearts, while Kofi Owusu scored a brace for Berekum Chelsea.

Several missed opportunities by Hearts, including Kwame Kizito and Kenneth Okoro twice failing to tap home into a yawning net, left fans taunting the players instead of cheering them throughout the game.

The mood of the fans after the final whistle was that of frustration and despair despite the victory due to the poor performance of the team and the apparent lack of commitment when the visitors did not live up to expectation.

Latif Salifu tormented the Hearts backline while Owusu left most of the Hearts fans sitting at the edge of their seats with his several incursions into the host team’s goal area.  But the relief came in the 66th minute when Abbey fired from close range for the opener.

It lasted only a few minutes as Owusu pulled parity seven minutes later only for Hayford to restore the lead.

Skipper Gnagne scored the third from a penalty spot before Owusu got his brace in the 85th minute, but his effort was too little too late.