GPL Round-up: Etouga strikes 17th as Kotoko slips in Tamale, Inkoom scores debut goal in Hearts draw

Relegation threatened Ghana Premier League side, Real Tamale United have ended the 8-games unbeaten run of Asante Kotoko after recording a 2-1 win over the league leaders at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale.

Ronald Frimpong opened the scoring for RTU from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute and the home side had to make attempts at goal for another 50 minutes before registering the second goal through Victor Aidoo in the 73rd minute. Franck Etouga Mbella grabbed a consolation goal for the Porcupine Warriors, when he struck from the penalty spot in the 85th minute to take his goals tally to 17, five goals away from breaking Ishmael Addo’s 21-year record of 22 goals in the Ghana Premier League.

GPL returnee Samuel Inkoom scored his debut goal for Hearts of Oak with an expertly struck penalty from 23 yards in the 2nd minute against bottom placed Elmina Sharks at the Accra Sports Stadium. The ex-Asante Kotoko and FC Basel right-back was making his second league appearance for the Phobians after his debut against Kotoko on Sunday April 10. However, Sharks equalised in the 28th minute through Michael Asamoah after building a quick counter attack that left three Hearts of Oak defenders arriving late to shore up the backline.

None of the top five teams on the league log won on match-day 25, as second place Bechem United suffered a 2-3 defeat to demotion threatened Eleven Wonders in Techiman. Aduana Stars was held to a scoreless draw by visiting AshantiGold SC in Dormaa while Great Olympics fell to a 1-2 away defeat against Gold Stars in Bibiani.

Medeama SC, which sits in 5th on the league log, lost 1-3 to mid-table Legon Cities. Cities had to wait till the 53rd minute to take the lead through an Abdul Rahman effort. Hans Kwofie struck from penalty spot in the 61st to double the Royals’ lead before Vincent Atingah pulled one back for the Mauves and Yellows from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Two-goal hero Hans Kwofie scored late in the 99th minute to seal a comfortable home win Legon Cities.

Frederick Asante’s 15th minute header gave 10th place Accra Lions a vital 0-1 away win over struggling King Faisal in Kumasi. WAFA’s hopes of escaping the drop zone received a major boost as they bounced back from their humiliating 0-6 mauling at AshGold last week, to secure a 3-2 home triumph over Berekum Chelsea in Sogakope. Michael Zuo, Samson Agyepong and Emmanuel Ofori Agyemang registered their names on the score sheet to give WAFA their first league victory since their match-day 20 win over RTU.

Dreams FC finished their away encounter at Karela with a man sent off as they lost 0-1 following a 25th minute goal. Second half substitute Issah Ibrahim, who replaced Fahadu Suleman, was given the marching orders by the referee following his bad reaction to a blow he received from an opponent.

In total, 24 goals were recorded in match-day 25 of the Ghana Premier League, with 6 home victories, 1 away triumph and 2 stalemates in 9 games.