5 speaking factors from GPL matchday 16
Matchday 16 of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League ended with league leaders Heart of Lions dropping three factors, whereas Asante Kotoko slipped up away from dwelling, with Hearts of Oak securing an necessary win over Legon Cities on Friday night time.
3Sports takes a take a look at 5 speaking factors from matchday 16.
Kotoko slip up in title quest
Asante Kotoko will probably be hurting for letting three factors skim away by way of their fingers.
The Porcupine Warriors didn’t essentially have Medeama on chokehold, though they’d a melee of possibilities to bury the sport after taking a first-half lead by way of ahead Kwame Opoku.
The outcome will reasonably be seen as a extra disappointing one for Kotoko, who will really feel they dropped two factors reasonably than gained a degree in Tarkwa.
On the again of 4 consecutive wins, Kotoko have been in search of a fifth win on the trot and have been partially over the road till they have been pegged again after the hour mark when defender Kamaradini scored for the hosts.
The Porcupine Warriors can take solace from the truth that the title race is much from accomplished. With 28 factors—identical as fierce rivals Hearts of Oak—Kotoko are sixth, two factors away from joint-table toppers GoldStars and Heart of Lions.
Hearts of Oak constructing momentum
Like a breakaway prepare, Hearts of Oak are bearing down on the golf equipment above them.
Steadily, however mightily, Hearts of Oak are taking big strides in direction of the league. Earlier in December, coach of the facet, Aboubakar Ouattara, subtly spoke about successful the league on the finish of the season, although he shortly brushed apart title talks after that.
On Friday, the Phobians set the tone for the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Legon Cities on the University of Ghana Stadium.
Since dropping to Asante Kotoko, Hearts have now received three video games on the bounce. Only Nations FC (20) have scored extra targets than the Phobians (16), who share the document with 4 different groups.
With about 18 video games to go, Hearts are concerned in a title battle.
Hearts will probably be hoping to win a primary league crown because the 2020/21 season when the season concludes in about 5 months.
Samartex again to successful methods
After a run of 4 successive defeats – a primary of their historical past – FC Samartex lastly discovered their mojo.
The difficulties they’ve confronted up till this level of the season have been summarized two weeks in the past when title-leading coach Nurudeen Amadu parted methods with the crew, resulting in the appointment of Christopher Ennin.
Ennin has up to now performed two video games as supervisor, successful one and drawing one. However, the standout in Ennin’s two video games is the instilling of misplaced self-confidence and perception.
Samartex look to have discovered a spark, which can be a rippling impact of the brand new coach’s appointment or an intrinsic motivation to complete the season on a excessive as defending champions.
Whatever the case is—Christopher Ennin’s appointment rubbing off the gamers or the need to complete strongly—Samartex look fully regimented and totally different from the facet that turned up in earlier weeks.
Heart of Lions handed actuality test in Bechem
Heart of Lions’ title credentials have been nicely and really examined in Bechem, they usually failed woefully.
Although beating Asante Kotoko and Samartex as a part of their eight-game unbeaten run, the actual check for Lions was in Bechem, the place the house facet final misplaced a league recreation in October.
Bechem themselves have been on a five-game successful streak, stretching again to their 1-0 victory over Kotoko in November.
All eyes have been fixated on the show-stopping recreation of the weekend.
In the top, it was Bechem who made essentially the most of dwelling benefit, beating Lions 3-0. The scoreline was considerably shocking owing to how Lions had been resolute on the again all season.
In their final eight video games previous to this, Lions had conceded only a purpose.
In reality, the final time Lions conceded three targets in a Ghana Premier League recreation was in September 2015 !
Although they spent numerous years in that nine-year interval within the decrease tiers of Ghana soccer. Lions on the day had no response to Bechem, who have been relentless.
At the top of the primary half, Bashir Hayford’s recreation plan was thrown out of the window after conceding two first-half stoppage-time targets.
Lions have been largely on the again foot all through the sport and will probably be upset to have misplaced within the method during which they did, particularly with GoldStars respiration down their necks.
GoldStars maintain believing
Until it’s all mentioned, accomplished, and dusted, Bibiani GoldStars have each proper to maintain believing they’re within the title race.
After defeating Berekum Chelsea 2-0 at Duns Park on Saturday, the Miners moved degree on factors with Heart of Lions earlier than Sunday’s video games. After Heart of Lions faltered in Bechem, GoldStars stay degree on factors with the league leaders on 30 factors.
Securing promotion to Ghana’s prime flight within the 2020/21 season, GoldStars have by no means received the Ghana Premier League crown.
Their league finishes – tenth, fifth & eleventh – nearly provides gloss to what it should imply for GoldStars to clinch the league.
Leading their title push is coach Frimpong Maanso, who has huge expertise and isn’t shy to make daring choices.
However, admittedly, the duty is big for GoldStars. They’ll want to remain excellent from now by way of until the top of the season to fancy their probabilities of making the league crown theirs.
