Hosts Dichemso needed the luck of the dreaded lottery from the spot to grab their semi final ticket in the ongoing MTN Ashantifest Community Soccer tournament following a pulsating stalemate against Amakom as the last 8 kicked off on Thursday.
Goalkeeper of Dichemso carried shoulder high in celebration after his heroics in the penalty shootout helped his side see off Amakom
Goals for Ramos for the homesters, and a reply for Amakom by Marvin Owusu resulted in a 1-1 draw in what was the second quarter final at the Otumfuo Park in Dichemso, as the two sides couldn’t be separated in regulation time.
In the end, Dichemso’s goalkeeper emerged the hero after his side took the honours, 4-3 after penalty shootout and with it qualification to the last four of a competition that began with 16 teams and has GH₵20,000 on offer for the ultimate winners.
Earlier, Ejisu extended their stay in a competition in which they are debuting by upstaging Ashtown 1-0 in the first quarter final tie. Evans’ strike was enough to hand a semi final berth to Ejisu, who this year became the first team from outside Kumasi to participate in a competition that began in 2021 with 8 competing sides.
The participants increased to 12 last year which saw Tafo whitewash Asokwa 4-1 in the final to succeed maiden winners, Abrepo.
Action from Dichemso-Amakom quarter final clash of the 2023 MTN Ashantifest Community Soccer tournament
With both sides already eliminated in the group phase this year, Ejisu who won Zone A and Zone B toppers, Dichemso now edge closer to becoming the new champions as they await which two sides join them to complete the last four line-up when quarter finals 3 and 4 kick off at the same Dichemso Otumfuo Park on Friday.
Zone C champs, Suame will be first out against Zone D runners-up, Kwadaso whilst Zone D winners, Santasi who boast the only 100% record so far face Bantama in the concluding fixture of this stage of the 2-month long competiton.
Sponsored by leading communication giants, MTN, the competiton involves teams around the Ashanti Regional area and is targeted at reaching out and giving to the very communities their cherished subscribers habit.
Aside the trophy and GH₵20,000 for the ultimate winners, the beaten finalists will also pocket a cool GH₵10,000 (ten thousand Ghana Cedis) whilst the 3rd place finishers will go home with GH₵5,000 (five thousand Ghana Cedis).
Each of the 16 competing sides already received GH₵3,000 (three thousand Ghana Cedis as participating even before the tournament began.
You must be logged in to post a comment.