Sports
Hearts seek redemption against Bechem United …in FA Cup finals
Accra Hearts of Oak must overcome a string of poor results to mount a successful defence of their MTN FA Cup title as they face Bechem United at the Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow in the finals of this year’s competition.
Holders Hearts, the most successful club in the cup competition with 11 titles, two more than close contenders and arch-rivals Asante Kotoko, are aiming to clinch their 12th title with back-to-back wins while opponents Bechem United have an opportunity to clinch only their second title after success in 2016; beating Okwahu United 2-1 in the finals.
However, the ‘Phobians’ are not in the best of shapes. They finished sixth in the just ended Ghana Premier League (GPL) after losing their last four fixtures.
The stark reality of their deep cracks was manifested last Sunday in their final league game which they suffered a 4-1 defeat to relegation survivors Real Tamale United (RTU).
Fortunately for Hearts, Bechem United have not been far from a similar fate.
Despite ending the season in third place, the ‘Hunters’ explosive start signaled them as the main rivals to eventual winners Asante Kotoko. But along the way, their momentum dropped with a chain of draws and eventually ended their last five games of the GPL with just a win.
Despite bad fortune for both sides in the league, they found their feat in the cup competition. Hearts accounted for GPL sides, Accra Lions (1-0), Elmina Sharks (2-2 full time, 8-7 penalty win) and lower tier sides Golden Kicks (5-2) and Sky FC (1-0) before edging another GPL side, Dreams 3-2 in the semi-finals.
Bechem United also excelled in their run. GPL sides, Ashanti Gold (2-1), Bibiani Gold Stars ( 1-1, 6-5 penalty win) and lower tier teams, Kwawuman United (4-2) and Tamale City(4-2) were struck down by the Hunters gun before dismissing regional rivals Aduana Stars 2-0 in the semis to book a finals ticket.
Mentally, Hearts maintain an overwhelming advantage over Bechem United.
Despite draws in their two encounters this season, Hearts have won eight times while Bechem United have won three times with three games ending in draws in 14 previous meetings since 2012.
Incidentally, both sides did not find luck at the Baba Yara Stadium in the league, losing their two games against Asante Kotoko and King Faisal. While Hearts were beaten 1-0 by both Kotoko and Faisal, Bechem United lost 2-0 to Kotoko and 3-1 to Faisal.
As die-hard fans of both sides around Kumasi, Accra, Bechem and across the country besiege the Baba Yara tomorrow they would expect nothing but their top stars live up to the occasion.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
The battle for supremacy in the Ghana Premier League will continue this weekend with both Medeama SC and Bibiani Gold Stars continuing their close battle for the title.
Defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, are breathing down heavily on the neck of the leaders Medeama SC as they aim to hunt down the Premier League leaders from the top.
Fresh from their 2-1 home victory over in-form Hearts of Oak, which saw them cut the lead at the top to just one, Gold Stars will travel to the Bono Region, precisely the Wenchi Sports Complex, to test their mettle against relegation candidate, Young Apostles.
Gold Stars are on a four-game winning streak, having blown apart Swedru All Blacks, Basake Holy Stars, Heart of Lions and Hearts of Oak, and are gunning to add Apostles to their list of casualties tomorrow.
Apostles, the last but one team on the log, have vowed to escape the drop, indicating their resolve to wrest a point or more in the game.
Medeama SC returns to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to host Hohoe United in a tricky tie.
Head coach of Medeama SC, Tanko Ibrahim, believes they are still on course to win the title despite the threat from Gold Stars.
Vision FC will look to continue their strong home form when they welcome relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea to the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema New Town today with the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi, also hosting the Samartex FC versus Dreams FC clash today.
In other games, the University of Ghana Stadium will play host to the Hearts of Oak versus Basake Holy Stars game; Asante Kotoko will trek to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to face Karela United FC; Aduana FC will seek to add to the woes of bottom club, Eleven Wonders, at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park with Heart of Lions seeking a return to winning ways when they host Swedru All Blacks at the Kpando Stadium.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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The battle for supremacy in the Ghana Premier League will continue this weekend with both Medeama SC and Bibiani Gold Stars maintaining their close contest for the title.
Defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, are breathing down heavily on the leaders Medeama SC as they aim to hunt down the Premier League leaders from the top.
Fresh from their 2-1 home victory over in-form Hearts of Oak, which saw them cut the lead at the top to just one point, Gold Stars will travel to the Bono Region, precisely the Wenchi Sports Complex, to test their mettle against relegation candidates, Young Apostles.
Gold Stars are on a four-game winning streak, having defeated Swedru All Blacks, Basake Holy Stars, Heart of Lions, and Hearts of Oak. They are gunning to add Apostles to their list of casualties tomorrow.
Apostles, the second-last team on the log, have vowed to escape the drop, indicating their resolve to wrest a point or more in the game.
Medeama SC returns to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to host Hohoe United in what promises to be a tricky tie. Head coach Tanko Ibrahim believes they are still on course to win the title despite the threat from Gold Stars.
Other Premier League Fixtures:
- Vision FC will look to continue their strong home form when they welcome relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea to the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex in Tema New Town.
- The Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi will host the Samartex FC vs Dreams FC clash.
- University of Ghana Stadium will play host to Hearts of Oak vs Basake Holy Stars.
- Asante Kotoko will trek to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to face Karela United FC.
- Aduana FC will seek to add to the woes of bottom club Eleven Wonders at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park.
- Heart of Lions will aim for a return to winning ways when they host Swedru All Blacks at the Kpando Stadium.
- By Raymond Ackumey
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