GPL: Gold Stars FC Move to Summit; Kotoko and Nations FC Shine
Gold Stars FC surged to the top of the Premier League with a commanding 3-0 victory over Accra Lions at the WAF Park in Sogakope. The visitors showcased their dominance, leaving the struggling Lions in their wake and leapfrogging Heart of Lions to claim the coveted first position.
Star of the match, Samuel Attah Kumi, delivered an outstanding performance, netting a remarkable hat-trick. He opened the scoring in the 14th minute, doubled the lead just before halftime, and completed his feat just after the break with a goal in the 46th minute. This victory marked Gold Stars’ biggest away win of the season and their impressive ninth victory overall, solidifying their status as title contenders.
Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko continued their pursuit of the leaders with a decisive 4-1 win against Vision FC. Kwame Opoku was the standout performer, scoring two crucial goals. He opened the scoring in the 6th minute, but Vision’s Nana Akwesi Amoah leveled the match in the 22nd minute.
However, Kotoko quickly regained control with Peter Amidu scoring before Opoku struck again in the 37th minute. Saaka Dauda capped off the performance with a fourth goal just before halftime, bringing Kotoko to third place with 31 points, only two points behind Gold Stars.
In a match that saw defending champions FC Samartex 1996 face Hearts of Oak, neither side could find the back of the net, resulting in a goalless draw that saw Hearts drop to fifth and Samartex remain in mid-table.
Nations FC played the role of spoilers against Heart of Lions, pulling off a 1-0 upset at the Kpando Stadium. Di Boris Djangone’s decisive goal in the 82nd minute handed Lions their first home defeat of the season and allowed Nations to leapfrog them into second place on the table.
Nsoatreman FC secured a vital 1-0 victory over Karela United, courtesy of Eric Osei Bonsu’s penalty in the 52nd minute. This win lifted Nsoatreman to 12th place while Karela fell into the relegation zone.
Berekum Chelsea snatched a dramatic 2-1 win against Medeama SC, with captain Zackaria Fuseini scoring the winner in injury time after Yussif Mubarik had equalized for Medeama from the penalty spot. Basake Holy Stars and Aduana FC played to an entertaining 1-1 draw, while Legon Cities thrashed Dreams FC 3-0, continuing their fight for survival in the league.
Finally, Bechem United maintained their solid form with a 0-0 draw against Young Apostles in the highly competitive Bono derby.