Yussif Razak scored in the first half to hand Accra Great Olympics a 1-0 win against rivals Accra Hearts of Oak in the Ga Mashie derby on Sunday, as former Ghana international and UEFA Champions’ League winner, Sulley Ali Muntari made his much anticipated debut for the champions.
The Dade who picked 4 points from the Phobians last season put up a gallant display in their Match Day 16 Ghana Premier League clash at the Accra Sports stadium. Maxwell Abbey Quaye smartly used Yussif as decoy to outwit the Hearts of Oak defence before the latter smashed home from close range – as he put the ball into the right corner on the half hour mark.
Olympics are now unbeaten in their last three games against the champions after beating them 2-0 in the first round of last season before holding them to a 1-1 draw in the second round.
Hearts of Coach Samuel Boadu brought in Kofi Kordzie, Abdul Aziz Nurudeen, Fataw Mohammed and Sulley Muntari in the second half as they pushed for the equalizer but their effort wasn’t good enough to rescue the Champions.
Olympics showed promise right from the start as they played to a pattern to keep former player Gladson Awako and Afriyie Barnieh at bay. James Akaminko, Abdul Bashiru and Oko Grippman were absolutely brilliant in the game with a more determined display to stop Hearts of Oak from causing havoc.
Hearts were better in the second half and threw everything at Olympics in the closing stages but Olympics were resolute enough to claim bragging rights again.
The Phobians threw men forward in search of the equalizer but Great Olympics held on to win the encounter. The result ends Accra Hearts of Oak’s 31-game unbeaten home record and pushes them down the League table to 7th with 23 points – 10 clear points behind leaders Asante Kotoko who play Elmina Sharks on Monday.
In other matches:
Eleven Wonders failed to unlock the defence of WAFA as the two sides shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw at the Ohene Ameyaw Park at Techiman on Sunday.
In Dawu- Dreams FC lost yet another home match at the theatre of Dreams as they fell 1-0 to Berekum Chelsea. The only goal of the match was scored moments before the half time whistle by Kelvin Obeng.
Karela United were held by Legon Cities at the Crosby Awuah Park as Owuss Boakye Emmanuel scored a 43rd minute equalizer to cancel Jonah Attuquaye’s opener as the game ended 1-1 at Aiyinase.
Bibiani Gold Stars secured a slim win at home against two-time champions Aduana FC at DUN’s Park. Steven Owusu scored from the spot in the 37th minute to give the Bibiani lads their 6th win of the season to move to 12th place in the Premier League with 19 points.
Earlier on Friday, Augustine Okrah and Emmanuel Annor scored in either half as Bechem United beat AshantiGold 2-0 at the Fosu Gyeabuor Park.
King Faisal returned to winning ways as they beat Real Tamale United 2-0 at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on Saturday. David Oppong opened the scoring in the 59th minute before Enoch Morrison added the winning goal in the 76th minute – ending King Faisal’s five match unbeaten run.
Accra Lions also had a good run against Medeama SC on Saturday as they scored in the 32nd minute through a delicious screamer from Fatawu Hamidu at the Accra Sports stadium.
Leaders Asante Kotoko will play as guests of Elmina Sharks at the Nduom Sports complex on Monday.
Credit: Ghana FA
