GPL REVIEW: Hearts Draw, Kotoko Win...

Hearts of Oak still top the Ghana Premier League despite a major scare in Dormaa, while Kotoko keep the momentum going to become the biggest movers of the matchday.

Aduana will rue their chances, while Dreams may be thinking of severing ties with Charles 'CK' Akunnor after they could not win again at home.

We've got the wrap on a matchday when 12 goals were recorded, one game rained off, there were three draws and no away win.

LIBERTY v EDUBIASE (postponed)

It will be honoured on Monday at 2pm local time. Heavy rains in Dansoman flooded the Carle Reindorf Park pitch. Both teams had agreed to start at 3:30pm in the hope that thirty minutes of waiting would see the rains subside.  

ADUANA 1-1 HEARTS  

The Phobians could not be usurped in this first v second tie in Dormaa. A top liner, it lived up to the billing with an intense pre-match buildup. The home side dominated from the onset and deservedly went into the break with the lead as Emmanuel Akuoko nodded home a free kick from Godfred Saka.

Aduana were so intense that they should have had a few more goals. But Hearts captain Robin Gnagne was the difference until the break. It was expected that Yahaya Mohammed will be too hot for the Ivorian, but the join-top league scorer was frustrated all game long.

In the second half, Kenichi Yatsuhashi tweaked tactics and Cosmos Dauda partnered weill with Samuel Yeboah to begin threatening Aduana. 66 minutes into the game, the pressure paid off. Dauda, who had worked his socks off all day, scored from some brilliant work from Yeboah.

Hearts are the only team in the league unbeaten away.

HASAACAS 2-1 DWARFS

Hasaacas mounted a timely comeback in the second-half of this coastal rivalry at the Essipon Sports Stadium after going down initially.

Justice Asabre Mensah put Ebusua ahead early on but Eric Bekoe restored equality - his seventh goal in 12 games. That was before former national youth attacker Samuel Afful made the result sure for the home side. For Dwarfs new coach, it's further frustration after replacing the experienced Joseph 'JE' Sarpong recently.

Hasaacas have now moved further away from the relegation zone while Dwarfs remain at the bottom of the league table with 10 points from 13 games.

KOTOKO 1-0 INTER ALLIES

Amos Frimpong’s penalty for ensured the Porcupine Warriors are steadily rising in the league after a dreadful first few games under David Duncan.

Stand-in coach Michael Osei has now won six out of seven games for the team since being given the reins in early April. The Kumasi side are now third, behind Aduana Stars and leaders Hearts.

DREAMS 2-2 MEDEAMA

Medeama were without influential trio Malik Akowuah, Moses Sarpong and Daniel Amoah for this tie which comes right after the important advancement into the CAF Confed Cup group stage in midweek.

Akowuah had suffered a minor knock in that win against Mamelodi Sundowns while the other two are part of the National U-20 team that are in Ethiopia for an African Youth qualifier.

That notwithstanding, Dreams could not capitalise. In their last premiership game, Dreams similarly allowed the visiting side to come back and draw 2-2. It was almosty deja vu on Sunday.

The reliable Lawson Bekui began the goal-fest and Aaron Amoah also contibuted, but Medeama showed mental fortitude to get back into it.
WAFA 1-0 TECHIMAN

Techiman City played one of their best away games, but they simply could not get anything out of this game in Sogakope. Emmanuel Boateng got the only goal of the game after some good work for Samuel Tetteh.

ASHGOLD 0-0 WA ALL STARS

The reigning champions were again pegged at home in this tie by All Stars, who themselves have slipped in intensity and placement on the league table.

BEREKUM CHELSEA 1-0 BECHEM

The Blues moved into the top five on Saturday after pipping Bechem United in the local derby on Saturday. Abedi Karim’s second half strike earned the home side vitals points at the Golden City Park. Chelsea, after a so-and-so first half managed to bulldoze their way in the second after a defensive blunder.

Bechem United drop just shy of the relegation zone while Chelsea look to keep winning.

GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE - FULL TIME 

* Saturday: Berekum Chelsea 1-0 Bechem United 
(Abedi Karim)

* Aduana Stars 1-1 Hearts
(Emmanuel Akuoku)

* Hasaacas 2-1 Dwarfs
(Eric Bekoe, Samuel Afful; Justice Mensah)

Kotoko 1-0 Inter Allies 
(Amos Frimpong)

WAFA 1-0 Techiman City  
(Emmanuel Boateng) 

Dreams 2-2 Medeama 
(Lawson Bekui, Aaron Amoah; Akwasi Donsu, Bismark Oppong)

Liberty v Edubiase (rained off, TBP on Monday)

Source: Joy Sports