Ghana Premier League: Nations compound Kotoko’s woes, Hearts held by struggling Karela

Photo Credit: Asante Kotoko

Nations FC showed great quality against Asante Kotoko in week 28 of the Ghana Premier League with a smooth sailing first half display at the Dr. Kyei Sports Complex in Sunday's 2-0 victory.

The Abrankese based club smothered the Porcupine Warriors in every department of the field with nearly excellent attacking and defensive play. The home side wasted no time in search of a goal when Faisal Charwetey threatened Kotoko’s penalty area with a powerful strike but his effort hit the side net on the 7th minute.

Emmanuel Annor came in with yet another threatening effort a minute later but Frederick Asare in post for the Porcupine Warriors swept his area clean with a second grab.

Coach Kassim Mingle’s charges however continued to mount the pressure which saw Nafiu Sulemana’s sublime strike take Kotoko keeper Frederick Asare by surprise on the 14th minute for Nations opener.

Asante Kotoko came close to finding the equalizer on the 33rd minute but Albert Amoah’s strike was parried over the line for a corner kick by Nations goalkeeper, Rabin Ousmane. Justice Blay’s header from the resultant corner kick nearly went past keeper Ousmane whose heroic save kept Nations 1-0 up.

Nations display of grit and clear tactics came alive in added time of the first half when Nafiu Sulemana set up Emmanuel Annor to plant the ball behind Fredrick Asare for 2-0 up, retaining the result into the half time break.

Nations FC caught Kotoko off guard early in the second half but defender Samba O’Neil cleared his lines to prevent the home side from increasing the tally to 3-0. Asante Kotoko were denied a goal on the 51st minute when Nation keeper, Rabin Ousmane pushed Emmanuel Antwi’s well taken free kick over the bar for a corner kick.

Nations kept pushing for more goals but Frederick Asare proved to be the partition between Kotoko and the home side, once again stopping Emmanuel Annor from netting a third on the 83rd minute.

Kotoko’s Samba O’Neil took affairs into his hands when he came up with a ferocious long ranger but Rabin Ousmane palmed the strike in the way of Albert Amoah whose rebound went wayward on the full time mark.

Kotoko lost for the second straight time after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Accra Lions in a week 22 outstanding fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

The record Premier League holders now drop to 4th on the league table with 47 points, same as Heart of Lions who defeated Accra Lions by 3-1 at the Kpando Stadium. Nations FC on the other hand sit second on the table with 51 points, two less than Gold Stars who stunned Medeama 1-0 at the Duns Park.

Elsewhere at the Accra Sports Stadium, Hearts of Oak sold out a goalless draw against Karela United who needed all three points to keep their survival hopes alive. Hearts of Oak are 6th on the table on 42 points with Karela moving a notch into 15th on 29 points from 28 games.

Full Week 28 results

Nations 2-0 Kotoko

Holy Stars 1-0 Legon Cities

Dreams 1-1 Vision

Gold Stars 1-0 Medeama

Bechem 1-2 Berekum Chelsea

Young Apostles 1-1 Samartex

Hearts of Oak 0-0 Karela

Heart of Lions 3-1 Accra Lions

League Table (Top-5 with 28 matches played)

	Points
Bibiani GoldStars	53
Nations FC	51
Heart of Lions	47
Asante Kotoko	47
Hearts of Oak	42