Accra’s University of Ghana stadium played host to a resurgent Hearts of Oak side, who bounced back from their narrow defeat at the hands of rivals Asante Kotoko to outclass Berekum Chelsea 3-1. This emphatic victory has catapulted the Phobians firmly into the Premier League title mix.
Hearts’ goalkeeper Sharif Shuaib, handed his first start of the season in place of the absent Benjamin Asare, proved a capable deputy between the posts. However, it was the attacking trio of Ahmed Ramzy Yussif, Hamza Issah, and Kwabena Boateng that stole the show, netting three goals to seal a convincing win. Yussif opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with Issah adding the second five minutes into the second half. Chelsea’s Emmanuel Sarpong briefly reduced the deficit, only for Boateng to restore Hearts’ two-goal advantage with the third goal in the 62nd minute.
As the Premier League season reaches its halfway point, the title contenders are beginning to emerge. Heart of Lions maintained their lead at the top of the table with a resounding 3-1 win against Basake Holy Stars at home. Nana Kwame Oppong’s brace and Emmanuel Ofori Sakyi’s strike ensured the Lions remain in pole position, with 27 points from 14 matches. Gold Stars FC also kept pace with the leaders, recording a 2-1 win at home against Nsoatreman FC to maintain second spot.
While the title contenders are jostling for position, the battle for survival is intensifying at the opposite end of the table. Dreams FC’s woes continued with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Asante Kotoko, leaving the Believers languishing in the bottom three. Baba Yahaya and Saaka Dauda scored for Kotoko, with Joseph Esso’s consolation goal proving too little, too late for Dreams FC. Nations FC, meanwhile, thumped basement club Legon Cities 3-0, piling more misery on the capital-based side.
Bechem United, recorded their fifth consecutive win with a hard-fought 1-0 success over defending champions FC Samartex 1996. Dalvin Yeboah’s 47th-minute strike proved the difference between the two teams, as Bechem United maintained their third position in the league table.
