GPL: FC Samartex restore seven-point lead; Hearts of Oak slip at home
FC Samartex 1996 continued their march to the 2023-24 Ghana Premier League title by restoring their seven-point lead at the top of the table with a comfortable 3 -0 win at home to Bofoakwa Tano on Sunday.
Nations FC beat Accra Lions 1-0 24 hours earlier to put pressure on the leaders, but FC Samartex responded brilliantly on Sunday by scoring twice in the first half to seal victory at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.
Baba Hamadu Musah opened the scoring for the Timber giants in the 17th minute before Evans Osei Wusu added the second 13th minute later to restore their seven-point lead over second-placed Nations FC.
Maxwell Owusu Boakye scored the third goal for the runaway league leaders as they have now moved a step closer towards their first ever Premier League title with four matches to end the season.
Bechem United recorded a 3-1 win over Karela United at the Nana Gyeabour park to almost guarantee their safety in the Ghanaian top-flight.
Two quick first half goals from Emmanuel Ababio and Emmanuel Annor and a third from Clinton Duodu helped the Hunters to the heavy win and catapult them to 6th on the table with 44 points from 30 matches. Giyasu Ibrahim scored a consolation for the visitors four minutes into injury-time.
Nsoatreman FC made lightwork of Bibiani GoldStars FC with a resounded 4-0 win at home on Sunday.
Goals from Adu Kwabena Meider, Collins Kofi Kudjoe and a brace from Stephen Diyou helped the home side to the comfortable win at the Professor Nana Koromansa II park.
Adu Kwabena opened the scoring in the 34th minute, Collins Kudjoe added second on 42 minute before Stephen Diyou put the icing on the cake with the third and fourth goals in the 82nd and 89th minutes respectively. The Nsoatre-based side are now 5th on the table while the visitors lie 11th on 40 points.
Heart of Lions produced a scintillating performance to beat Dreams FC 2-1 at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu to move out of the relegation zone.
The visitors are now two points above the drop zone after the vital comeback win against the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup semi-finalist.
Mustapha Yakubu’s 46th minute strike handed Lions the precious win and ensured they can now dream of avoiding the drop from the topflight.
Joseph Esso opened the scoring for Dreams FC in the 17th minute before Ebenezer Abban scored from the spot on the stroke of the first half.
Mustapha Yakubu sealed the famous win with a fabulous strike to separate the two teams and set Lions on the path of fighting to avoid relegation.
Defending champions Medeama SC laboured to a 1-0 win over an impressive basement club Real Tamale United in Tarkwa on Sunday.
Diawise Taylor’s 38th minute penalty separated the two teams at the Akoon Community park.
The home side spurned several chances as the visitors gave a good account of themselves in the mining town.
The Mauve and Yellow are back in the top-four after the solitary win – leaving them on 46 points with four matches to end the season.
Hearts of Oak are shell-shocked at home after losing 1-0 against Aduana Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Kelvin Obeng’s 11th minute strike was all that the visitors needed to silence the home fans in the capital.
Aduana remain third on the table with 46 points while Hearts are just four points above the drop zone with 38 points from 30 matches.
With the 2023-24 Ghana Premier League reaching a home stretch, the remaining four matches will prove crucial in the title decider and relegation battles.
