It was a weekend of resilience from the struggling outfits as Karela and Dreams FC won with large margins while Nsoatreman stopped Medeama SC. Meanwhile, Kotoko failed to bounce back while Hearts made sure the title was still in sight with a crucial victory over familiar foes King Faisal.
Here are five talking points from the 29th round of matches in the Ghana Premier League.
ALMOST AN UNFAVOURABLE MOMENT TO DISPLAY ‘NEVER SAY DIE’ SPIRIT
Hearts of Oak put up a great performance against King Faisal which could have seen them in a better position had they done it consistently in their previous matches. It was obviously a tough battle between the Phobians and King Faisal who are trying hard to survive relegation. But Hearts of Oak’s spirited performance snatched the maximum points a few minutes before full-time, putting them back in the top four. However, the former champions would have wished such performances had come earlier to rather propel them to the top of the table. They could still hope for better since they are not totally ruled out of winning the title with six points less than Aduana Stars and five matches to go.
RELEGATION-THREATENED TEAMS LIVING THE MISSION
The struggling teams at the bottom of the table are responding urgently to the glaring danger as the curtains begin to draw down on the competition. Dreams FC and Karela recorded big scorelines over the weekend in a bid to intensify their efforts toward surviving. Karela’s 4-1 victory over Berekum Chelsea was their first 4+ goals recorded since June 2022 against Real Tamale United. On the other hand, Dreams FC scored five for the first time since March 2022 [13 months ago]. Real Tamale United also shocked Accra Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium while Nsoatreman extended their great home run with a slim win over title contenders Medeama SC.
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ALMOST OVER FOR KOTOKOKU ROYALS
Kotoku Royals could see themselves returning to Division One at the end of the season unless they are able to stage a miraculous run in their last five matches. The debutants have evidently stepped up in the second round having already won three more points than what they achieved at the end of the first round even after fewer matches. However, conceding another defeat in any of their remaining matches will mean, the 17th-placed Great Olympics which have 12 points more will have to lose all five matches to enable Kotoku Royals to stand any chance of rising up the table. Therefore, realistically, the bottom-placed team may be confirmed and relegated soon.
KING FAISAL’S FORM DIP
The zeal and urgency which were seen in King Faisal seem to be dwindling at the wrong time following the club’s recent run of results under Ignatius Osei Fosu. The Insha Allah Boys have failed to win their last three games [2 losses and a draw] having won four in their last five games including a penalty shootout victory in the FA Cup quarterfinals over Aduana Stars. King Faisal’s initial form rose them to the 10th position but the story is gradually changing. They will need to respond urgently to save their season with five matches to go.
A DOWNGRADE FROM LAST SEASON IN TERMS OF POINTS
With five matches to end the season, it’s already mathematically impossible for any team to reach the total point mark of what the defending champions Asante Kotoko accumulated last season. After 34 matches the Porcupine Warriors gained 67 points but Aduana Stars’ stalemate with Kotoku Royals on Monday means they could only earn 15 more points in addition to their 51 which would make their total points 66, one less than last season’s champions. Meanwhile, there are difficult fixtures awaiting them in Nsoatreman who have made the Nana Konamansah Park a fortress, and second-placed Bechem United.
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