Faisal deepen Olympics’ Woes

Kumasi-based King Faisal deepened the woes of Accra Great Olympics when they inflicted a 3-0 defeat on them in their Week 19 clash of the Onetouch Premier League match at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium , Accra on Sunday. The result, the second successive loss for Olympics in the second round, ensured they still stacked at the bottom of the 16-club Premier League. Faisal began on an impressive note despite playing away, while Olympics laboured in search of their rhythm when it mattered most. The ‘Wonder Club’ surprisingly left out inspirational captain Francis Mantey on the bench, while the inexperienced midfield component of Ahmed Zakari, Abdul Basit and Frank Sowah Nortey failed to glitter. It took just three minutes for the visitors to take the lead through Abdul Samad Oppong whose well-bent free-kick at the edge of the penalty area beat goalkeeper Ben Mensah, after danger man Ofosu Micky had been fouled. Faisal pressed on for more goals and raided the Olympics half on several occasions. In the 11th minute, Olympics defender Abdul Rahim Fuseini saved his side from conceding the second goal by clearing Basit Abraham’s header off the line after goalie Mensah was well-beaten to the ball. A minute later, Eric Opoku made it two for the Alhaji Gruzah boys by connecting home a perfect pass from Abraham who sneaked through an offside trap by the Olympics defenders to lay a neat pass. The homers made their first substitution in the 20th minute by replacing Sowah Nortey with Frank Nyarko but the change did little to aid their course. The closest Olympics came to reducing the deficit was in the 41st minute but tall lanky striker Sherif Mohammed made a fuss of it. Sherif after being put through by Labaran Deen shot wide with only goalkeeper Osei Boateng at his mercy as he swung his boot wide and for the ball moving in different directions. Mantey and striker Paa Joe Kumah were brought on in the second half but still Olympics failed to break through the iron clad Faisal defence built around Eric Agyemang, Kwadwo Boateng, Daniel Addo and Awudu Nafiu. In the 58th minute, Basit sealed victory for the visitors after completing a beautiful run by Samad Oppong. With a humiliating loss staring at them, Olympics lifted up their game in search of a consolation in the dying minutes of the game but it remained a dream till the final whistle. Paa Joe had a perfect chance to redeem a goal for Olympics on 88 minute mark but the veteran player chose to hold onto the ball rather than make a first time effort allowing Nafiu to clear the ball of his feat; as the fans left the stadium in droves disappointed and angry at the team for their poor output.