Thursday, September 10, 2009

FAISAL GET REVENGE (BACK PAGE)

SUBSTITUTE Emmanuel Odoi struck in the second half to help King Faisal revenge a first round defeat to Accra Hearts of Oak in the MTN GHALCA Top 4 competition.
In the return tie at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi yesterday, the two sides failed to produce the expected glitter but the lone goal was enough to lift Faisal to the second spot on the table.
The Hearts defence, which had played brilliantly in the match, was caught flat-footed on the 59th minute mark, and Odoi judged rightly and advanced to meet a beautifully weighted cross from the right for the only goal.
Hearts, sporting Bernard Don Bortey and Eric Gawu in attack, started strongly and should have gone ahead just under a minute but Bortey’s effort was pushed to corner.
It looked like Hearts were going to score, but again in the 9th minute Theophilus Apoh drove a piercing free kick over the bar.
The home side hit back, attacking well from the flanks, with Thomas Avogbedor and Abu Naba in the thick of events.
Faisal’s Osei Bonsu made the first serious goal attempt for his side when on the 31st minute he saw his tricky shot whisk past the post narrowly.
Hearts appeared to have a command in the middle as the young Ishmael Aryee explored the area to his advantage to thread some neat passes to the attack.
Gilbert Fiamenyo was brought on at restart for the injured Gawu but Awudu Nafiu and his defensive team had little problems taking hold of him.
With both sides effecting substitutions, they launched attacks at each ends but the goals were hard to come by.
Hearts nearly paid for their haste for the equaliser as on two occasions keeper Laud Quartey was rounded in his area but the final deliveries from Faisal were weak.

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