On this day 27 February 2002 (Exactly 19 years ago today) Accra Hearts of Oak whitewashed visiting Tano Bofoakwa 6-1 in the last match of the league stage in the maiden GHALCA Top Four league, setting a stage for the grand finale with Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals at the Accra Sports Stadium.
This win by Hearts on a soggy pitch after a brief but heavy down pour minutes before kick-off, helped them to maintain the top spot on seven points, same as Liberty who won 3-2 away against Obuasi Goldfields but conceded the leadership to Hearts with an inferior goal aggregate, while Bofoakwa was stuck to the bottom with no point. Goldfields placed third with three points.
Within 14 minutes, Hearts had registered two goals, courtesy winger Don Bortey and the previous season’s Most Valuable Player, Charles Taylor. Bortey fired through a host of legs in a melee after goalkeeper James Dabuo had failed to make a first time save in the eighth minute while Taylor capitalised on a poor back header by defender Kennedy Akorli, side stepped the goalie and shot into an empty net.
But for Hearts’ goalie, James Nanor’s who pulled two dramatic saves in the 18th and 24th minutes from Kojo Poku and Baffour Gyimah, Bofoakwa would have drawn level and even go ahead. Taylor however hit his personal second and Hearts’ third in the 40th minute. He finished off a free kick after he had been brought down on the edge of the “18” by defender Abeiku Aikins who was eventually sent off by Koforidua-based class one referee J.M. Atikesse for an off the ball incident.
Just as Hearts were pressing to increase the tally, substitute Kofi Aseidu pulled one back for Bofoakwa with a beautiful low grounder in the 56th minute. Ironically, that goal brought out the best in Hearts who banged in three more before the final whistle. Laryea Kingston in the 75th, substitute Awuley Quaye Jnr. (80) and Bortey four minutes later ensured the annihilation of Bofoakwa.
What Next?
Hearts of Oak went on to win the inaugural GHALCA Top-4 tournament.
Elsewhere;
On this day 27 February 2005 (Exactly 16 years ago today) Kpando Heart of Lions fought from a goal down to beat Kumasi King Faisal 2-1 to lift the 2005 edition of the GHALCA Top Tournament in their top-liner at the baba Yara Sports stadium in Kumasi.
Faisal scored first in the 46th minute through Shilla Illiasu who headed home a corner kick. Lions, not deterred by the goal accepted the challenge and earned a free kick just near the box in the 51st minute but wasted it. They continued however to probe for the equaliser but Obed Ansah missed a glaring chance in the 64th minute when he shot wide. Bob Zeo was called upon four minutes later to find equaliser but after he beat goalkeeper Suraju Mohammed who had come out of the post he missed the posts narrowly with a perfect grounder.
Faisal, sensing danger brought on Michael Owusu for Sumaila Alhassan in the 73rd minute while Lions substituted Sadat Bukari for Awal Mohammed in the 76th minute. Disaster struck Lions when their dependable defender, Jackson Joseph was carried off the field for an injury and he was quickly replaced by Adu Ofei in the 79th minute. Faisal’s Eric Gawu missed a chance in the 81st minute when he failed to connect home a cross.
Lions from then took over the game and scored the match winner through Obed Ansah who headed home a cross from Zeo in the 82nd minute. It was a match that Faisal dominated in the first half with Prince Antwi missing a chance in the first minute of the game while Ben Wilson also wasted a chance in the third minute. Lions who could not put their set pieces together in the first half kept the attacking machinery of Faisal at bay but in the 23rd minute Gawu with only goalkeeper Chitou Rachad to beat shot off target. Shilla Illiasu of Faisal was adjudged the best player.
On this day 27 February 1932 (Exactly 89 years today) When Arsenal beat Huddersfield Town 6-0 in the F. A. Cup it was Town’s first home defeat in the competition for 19 years.
On this day 27 February 1974 (Exactly 47 years ago today) Wilf McGuinness who had been appointed as successor to Sir Matt Busby at Manchester United resigned from his position at the club. After a poor run of results he had been demoted from manager to second team coach at Christmas.
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH
