Karela United showed patience until stoppage time to beat Hearts of Oak 1-0 at home in their 2021/22 Ghana Premier League (GPL) match-day 14 fixture Saturday afternoon.
It was a game the defending champions had hoped to win to keep them in sight of leaders Asante Kotoko but the ‘Passion and Pride’ Boys were dominant from the start.
They, however, struggled to put the ball past goalkeeper Richmond Ayi who pulled some great saves in both halves of the game at the Crosby Awuah Memorial (CAM) Park.
Hearts showed a few moments of brilliance and threatened in between with trademark shots from young midfielder Salim Adams.
The Phobians’ top assists man Ibrahim Salifu picked up a knock from some tackles which got him to come out of the game and be replaced by Gladson Awako.
Karela had to be patient for a breakthrough score. And it came after referee Maale Imgerde Ireme signalled six minutes of additional time.
Four minutes into it, Matthew Kelvin Andoh produced the moment of quality with a patient build-up from the left and found Humid Dafie with a pass which the latter powered home the decisive goal with a fine strike.
After an inconsistent opening start to the season, the bounces are finally going the way of Karela.
The Aiyinase-based side are unbeaten in four league games since the start of the year 2022 – defeating Eleven Wonders, holding Olympics in Accra and posting back-to-back wins against King Faisal and now Hearts of Oak. They now tie on 20 points with the Phobians who have played a game less.
