On this day 24 December 2006 (Exactly 13 years ago today) An 82nd minute goal scored by substitute Stanley Afedzi enabled Accra Hearts of Oak to beat Kumasi Asante Kotoko 1-0 in their One Touch Premier League match at the Robert Mensah stadium in Cape Coast to bring down the curtain on the first round of the 2006/07 League season.
After a goalless first half, both sides exhausted their substitution list in an effort to improve their game plan.
Tragedy hit Kotoko in the 55th minute when their defender Murtala Mohammed was red carded for a second offence.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Kotoko matched their opponents boot for boot until Afedzi scored the match winner to send the Phobians into a Christmas mood.
On this day 24 December 1995 (Exactly 24 years ago today) Leeds Utd’s Gary McAllister, Tony Yeboah and Brian Deane scored in a 3:1 Premier League home win over the eventual champions Manchester United on Christmas Eve.
Leeds Line-up:Mark Beeney, Brian Deane,Gary Speed,Tony Dorigo, Tomas Brolin, Carlton Palmer, Gary Kelly, David Wetherall, Gary McAllister, Richard Jobson, Tony Yeboah(Rod Wallace 86)
Man Utd Line-up: Peter Schmeichel,Stephen Bruce (Phil Neville 79), Brian McClair, Eric Cantona, Paul Parker (David May 74), Gary Neville, Denis Irwin, David Beckham (Paul Scholes 74), Nicky Butt, Andy Cole, Roy Keane
On this day 24 December 1968(Exactly 51 years ago today) Former Manchester United winger George Best won the Ballon d’Or award for best European football player ahead of team mate Bobby Charlton and Red Star Belgrade winger Dragan Džajić; first and only Northern Irish national to win the award.
Best was the third Manchester United player to win the trophy after Denis Law (1964) and Bobby Charlton (1966).
On this day 24 December 1985 (Exactly 34 years ago today) Juventus’ French midfielder Michel Platini was the Ballon d’Or winner for Europe’s best football player for the 3rd consecutive time; he beat Verona striker Preben Elkjær and Barcelona midfielder Bernd Schuster
On this day 24 December 1991(Exactly 28 years ago today) Marseille forward Jean-Pierre Papin was named as Ballon d’Or winner for Europe’s best football player.
Papin was the third French national to win the award after Raymond Kopa (1958) and Michel Platini (1983, 1984 and 1985). He was also the first player from the French League to win the trophy.
On this day 24 December 1995 (Exactly 24 years ago today) PSG/Milan’s Liberian striker George Weah was named as winner of the Ballon d’Or for Europe’s best football player.
It was the first edition of this award where players born outside Europe were allowed to receive votes.
On this day 24 December 1996 (Exactly 23 years ago today) Former Borussia Dortmund’s German sweeper Matthias Sammer was named best football player in Europe (Ballon d’Or) ahead of PSV/Barcelona striker Ronaldo and Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer.
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH
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