Ebusua Dwarfs pulled off a sensational second half turnaround to beat Liberty Professionals 2-1 in their 2017/18 Ghana Premier League matchday 7 encounter on Sunday.
Benjamin Eshun set the tone for what will turn out a day of missed chances later to be rue by Liberty when he intercepted a miscalculated headed pass in the 11th minute but his lob over the onrushing Dwarfs goalkeeper left much to be desired
Liberty were full of creativity but lacked the killer instinct in the final third as they dominated their hosts at the Cape Coast Stadium.
They however had to rely on what looked like a soft penalty converted by Eshun in the 24th minute to take the lead.
Referee Ernest Baafi pointed to the spot after Emmanuel Attipoe easily dropped to the ground when he found himself in between Abu Naba and Aikins Asante.
Liberty came close to scoring again thrice before the halftime break with Alex Ofosu and Eshun failing to bury the chances.
It was all Liberty from the start of second half. Again, Eshun continued his bad day at office with feeble attempts at goal from both long and close ranges. He was subsequently taken off the game by coach Reginald Asante Boateng with Tamimu Montari coming on as replacement.
But Ebusua Dwarfs, who had been poor almost all game, would bounce back spectacularly in the final 15 minutes and make Liberty pay dearly for their profligacy.
And they found the net in the 76th minute when Dennis Nkrumah-Korsah did all the work to set Alhaji Mustapha on a one-v-one with Liberty goalkeeper Fatao Alhassan. The Dwarfs forward made no mistake in levelling the scores by hitting a low grounder home.
Dwarfs, buoyed by the equalizer, visibly grew in confidence and really began to chase the winning goal. Entering the final minute, Nkrumah-Korsah who assisted Mustapha’s goal delivered the turnaround goal as he squeezed his way to nod in the former’s cross.
Liberty could have made it 2-2 just before the final whistle but Francis Owusu took a heavy touch of the ball after Montari’s feeble shot beat Dwarfs goalkeeper Danso Wiredu Mensah.
Dennis Nkrumah-Korsah who provided an assist and then scored the match winner was adjudged NASCO Man-of-the-Match.
Line-ups:
Ebusua Dwarfs XI: Danso Wiredu Menah – Emmanuel Ansong, Dennis Nkrumah-Korsah, Mashudu Awudu, Joseph Amoah Mensah, Alhaji Mustapha – Aikins Asante, Abu Naba Alebke/70’ Osman Mohammed, Justus Torsutsey/50’ Joseph Dabitora, Joseph Tagoe/49’ Isaac Donkor – Solomon Gyesi Okudzeto
Unused subs: Frank Andoh, Simon Martey, Imoro Adam, Kenneth Yorke
Liberty XI: Fatao Alhassani – Jude Ekon, George Amoako, William Dankyi, Aikins Kyei Baffour, Simon Zibo Emmanuel Attipoe, Emmanuel Banahene, Benjamin Eshun/63’ Tamimu Muntari, Alex Ofosu/81’ Prosper Avor, Brite Andoh/54’ Francis Owusu
Unused subs: Ganiwu Shaibu Michael Ampadu, Kouassi Jean, Paa Kow Arthur
