Hearts of Oak were had to work extra hard against defending league champions, Wa All Stars, to record their first three points of the season on a rainy pitch at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday.
Newly signed Scottish coach, Frank Nuttal, started with ever influential goalie, Ben Mensah, who was flanked by Otoo, Nimo and hard tackling Inusah Musah, but that did not deter Wa All Stars lead striker, Richard Arthur, to test the strength of the defence with a well struck effort in the opening stages of the match.
Hearts of Oak first shot on target came in the 9t minute when in-form, Patrick Razak, sent in a powerful in-swinger but the goalkeeper of All Stars tipped it over the bar.
Alex Kouami, who was starting his second game of the season, was very influential and got the Phobians the first goal of the game with a missile that brought the rainy stadium alive.
That goal was a well and truly deserved one for the Phobians but Alexander Nimo had done very well to beat his marker before setting up Kouami.
Wa All Stars who had won all their last three games against the Phobians needed a response and certainly upped their game to equalise in the 58th minute but Amoah’s shot was cut short by the resolute Hearts defenders.
But as always Richard Arthur popped up for Wa All Stars to pull his side back to 1-1 after being set up by Ben Mensah.
The goalkeeper had a howler and Richard Arthur was on hand to punish him.
In Elmina in the Central Region, Fearsome Sharks worked tirelessly to seal their first win of the season with 1-0 score line against Tema Youth at the Nduom Sports Stadium.
Isaac Mensah left it late to strike the winner for Kobina Amissah’s men who lost to similar margin against league leaders, Aduana Stars.
The Harbour Warriors defended gallantly until Mensah managed to break the deadlock in the dying embers of the game.
The win comes as a morale booster for Elmina Sharks as they head to the Baba Yara Stadium to face Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Wednesday.
Bolga All Stars also had an afternoon to remember after recording their first win in the Ghana Premier League with a 1-0 win against Accra Great Olympics at the Tamale Utrecht Park.
Midfielder, Samuel Norgbey, converted a penalty in the 50th minute mark to bag the three points for the strugglers.
The debutants playing on an adopted home ground exhibited some qualities after the midweek 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Aduana Stars in Dormaa.
For Olympics, they are without a win in three matches.
At Dansoman, Liberty Professionals survived a resilient Medeama side to claim a 3-2 win at the Carl Reindorf Park.
Bernard Arthur scored a double and Captain Samuel Sarfo added the second in the dying embers of the game.
Medeama went into the clash without midfield talisman, Kwasi Donsu, who scored the cracking finish in last season’s win at the same venue. Liberty trainer, Ignatius Osei-Fosu, rallied his side for victory, following the 2-0 reverse at Chelsea in midweek.
Bernard Arthur opened the scoring through a clinical strike after the Medeama defence failed to clear their lines.
Liberty’s celebration was cut short when Justice Blay equalised for the yellow and mauves.
Bernard Arthur restored the lead for Liberty after the break but Francis Addo rose above the host defence to head home the equaliser again.
Skipper, Samuel Sarfo, put Liberty in the lead again in the 80th minute to seal maximum points for the Scientific Soccer lads.
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