From a tepid start to eventual champions. Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies took the final of the Normalization Women’s Special Cup to re-enact the story of their campaign and capped it off with an incredible 3-2 comeback victory over Ampem Darkoa Sunday afternoon.
Hasacas, the record women’s league winners (thrice), endured a torrid start to the competition, playing second fiddle to Sea Lions in qualifying from Group C. They accounted for Police Ladies in the quarterfinal before clearing Sea Lions with an aggregate win in another repeat of their group stage battle which secured them a slot in Sunday’s grand finale with Ampem Darkoa.
And just like their journey to this stage, Hasaacas Ladies began the final going down 2-0 down at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.
Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah put Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the lead with a sweet strike on 19 minutes.
Matters worsened for Yusif Basigi’s ladies when goalkeeper Faustina Owusu Nyamekye failed to grab a harmless free-kick, allowing the ball to pass through her legs. And a predating Mavis Owusu did the easiest job of prodding the ball into the back of the net. 2-0 on 30 minutes.
Moments before the howler for the second goal, coach Basigi had decided to juggle his tactics with quite an early substitution which saw winger Lily Niber Lawrence come on for Mary Osei Agyemang.
Hasaacas got better especially on the left wing and it was one of the moves on that part of the field that saw Evelyn Badu feeding off a cross to fire home from outside the area in the 40th minute.
And five minutes later, it was all level 2-2 – courtesy a neat finish by Black Maidens striker Milot Abena Pokuaa.
Beaming with confidence, Hasaacas continued their surge in the second half until the 76th minute when referee Joyce Appiah pointed to the spot following a handball incident in the Ampem Darkoa penalty area.
Skipper Perpetual Agyekum stepped up and converted the penalty in style to put Hasaacas Ladies in front for the first time with her 9th goal of the campaign.
Hasaacas held on to the 3-2 lead to emerge champions of the novelty Normalization Women’s Special Cup.
FULL TIME:@ampem_darkoa 2-3 @SekHasaacas
And Hasmal Ladies turn out the winners of the novelty women's Special Competition after a dramatic comeback from two goals down. #NCSWCfinal pic.twitter.com/uKTCPHN5y9
— Footy-Ghana.com 🇬🇭 (@FootyGhana) April 14, 2019
The Honours
Hasaacas Ladies took home GH¢50,000 as prize money and as well gold medals while Perpetual Agyekum received the golden boot for finishing as top scorer with 9 goals in 11 games.
Ampem Darkoa midfielder Grace Asantewaa was named overall best player of the competition.
Evelyn Yeboah, also of Ampem Darkoa, was adjudged best goalkeeper.
