GPL: Five things we learned from matchday 5

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Frank Appiah
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The Ghana Premier League continued over the weekend, with wins for Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, and Aduana Stars on matchday 5.

Here are five things we learned.

HEARTS’ PERFECT RESTART

Hearts of Oak have looked like a different team since the league suspension was lifted. Hearts won their second game in a row this weekend, defeating Kotoku Royals 1-0 at Coast Stadium.

Hearts of Oak failed to win their first three games before the break, prompting the dismissal of Samuel Boadu. Slavko Matic took over as coach, and the Phobians have risen from the bottom half of the table to the top half with back-to-back wins.

Hearts will be remembered as poor starters in each of the last two seasons, despite winning a trophy in each of those seasons. Coming back earlier than expected this campaign could be their breakthrough once more.

 

LIONS, SO FAR, THE SURPRISE PACKAGE

After losing their first game against Kotoku Royals, Accra Lions have raised eyebrows by winning their last four games. This includes victories over Karela, Tamale City, Dreams, and Nsoatreman, the most recent addition to the list.

They are currently second on the log with just a point adrift of leaders Aduana Stars.

Goalkeeper Andrews Owusu has also been enjoying some accolades as he extends his clean sheet to three in the last three games.

KING FAISAL BEYOND REPAIRS?

Despite scoring their first away goal of the season, King Faisal extended their losing streak to five games in a row with a 2-1 defeat to Bibiani Gold Stars. Following the victory, the Gold Stars can now boast back-to-back home victories.

The Kumasi-based side have had four different men sit in the dugout from just the start of last season. However, situations only worsen with time.

Between March 6th and May 8th, 2022, King Faisal went winless in 10 games, with eight of those games ending in defeat, and came close to being relegated from the top flight last season.

King Faisal started the season with Serbian Branko Bozovic and are now led by Jimmy Cobbinah, but are still without a win and are languishing at the bottom.

If no drastic changes are made, they may equal or exceed their dreadful 10-game winless streak from last season.

 

 

DAVID ABAGNA SANDAN FINDS SCORING BOOT

David Abagna Sandan scored his first goal of the season for Real Tamale United as his side got the first win of the campaign against Berekum Chelsea at Golden City Park. Chelsea have now tasted defeat at home for the first time this season.

The man whose scoring habit won him a call-up in the Black Stars for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations had been battling with injury. Having scored eight goals in the first nine matches last season, Abagna had to wait until the final day of the season to add one more to his tally.

He had appeared in all four of RTU’s previous matches this season, but his team didn’t win until the goal poacher found his name on the score sheet.

In all the eight games that he’s scored in from the beginning of last season, RTU have only ended as losers once.

THE LOVE STORY OF KARELA AND CAM PARK

Karela United continued their wonderful home run from last season by recording a slim win against Bechem United at the Cosby Awuah memorial park.

They have remained invincible at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park from the start of last season until now and there is only a little sign of giving up regardless of their form on the road.

Bechem United’s current form of two wins against Kotoko and Kotoku Royals was not even enough to tame Karela on their turf which gives fans a reason to watch out for the Anyinase boys once again this season.

They may have benefited from the goal-scoring prowess of Diawisie Tailor and Umar Bashiru in previous seasons, but Karela seem to have a brilliant way of replacing goalscorers.

Former Elmina Sharks forward Enock Agblenyo is the main man this time, with the 23-year-old already netting three goals so far.

By Frank Appiah|3news.com|Ghana