A very shinny day on Saturday afternoon for Karela United with a late win over Ghana Premier League champions Glorious Heart of Oak.
Both teams started very well with the intensity very high, chances created were very high, the away team kept knocking on the door, Heart Of Oak very resilient especially in defense denied the host team a number of goal scoring chances.
Heart Of Oak missed Afriyie Barnieh to injury, who could have been pivotal for the visitors on the day, again lost Ibrahim Salifu to injury on the 28th minute which made Heart of Oak unsettled. Former Great Olympics captain, Gladson Awako replaced him.
The best moment for Karela United in the first half came in the late minutes when Karela United won four consecutive corners in the space of two minutes. Non of these corners resulted in a goal as the Mohammed Alhassan led back four controlled those situations very calmly.
First half ended in a draw even with so many chances created.
The fans of the home side, Karela United kept chanting for a goal even during the break as the energy at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park was very intensed.
Just like the game started in the first half, it continued in the early minutes of the second half, Salim Adams trademark shot tested Felix Kyei’s prowess just three minutes into the second half and the shot stopper responded very well.
Another followed, this time from Gladson Awako and again, the young goalkeeper responded to his duties very well.
On the 53rd minute, the first yellow card was shown to Salim Adams when he fouled Karela United’s winger Richard Berko who was on a good run to attack the Heart Of Oak defense.
Karela United made their first change when Augustine Randolph was brought on to replace Richard Berko on the 65th minute.
Experience and skillful Matthew Kevin Andoh was also brought on to replace Samuel Atta Kumi who had been a threat to the Phobians defence but that was because he was injured.
Kevin Andoh played very well and made Karela United not to miss Atta Kumi.
With five minutes to end the regulation time, Karela United made yet another three changes, Daniel Paha Kwofie, Emmanuel Owusu Boakye and Isaac Donkor were all substituted and Dagadu, Flamini and Patrick Mensah replaced the trio.
Heart Of Oak made their second change when Amankwah Baafi replaced Asubonteng.
Kwadwo Addae’s partnership with Ebenezer Ocran can’t be left out, they were very solid and calm as they Muted the big Kofi Kodzi and Obeng Junior’s partnership and prevented the defending champions from entering their box.
The best chance of the game felt to Kofi Kodzi in the box of Karela United but the shot from the giant striker was very feeble and that was very cheap for Kyei’s gloves.
Six minutes was added on when the game was still barren, Caleb Amankwah substituted Salim Adams as the third substitution for Heart Of Oak in that process and Karela United broke a Heart Of Oak attack, had the ball released to the left side of attack, that was a ball to Matthew Kevin Andoh, drifts in very well in the middle, passes to Umar Bashiru who found Humin Dafie very well positioned and he drove a good shot to the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Richmond Ayi who has had a very good game and that happened on the 90+4 minute.
With two minutes to go, Humin Dufie’s goal was enough for Karela United to secure the three maximum points. Referee Maale Imgredie blew his final whistle to bring the game to an end, resulting in a 1-0 win for the host.
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