Second-placed Bechem United’s bid for a first-ever Ghana Premier League (GPL) title is all but over following a 1-1 draw with Hearts of Oak in a match-day 28 fixture at Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park Saturday afternoon.
The Hunters have now gone four games without a win — a defeat and three straight stalemates.
Bechem controlled the early portion of the first half, taking a deserved lead through Emmanuel Owusu who tucked home from close range in the 31st minute.
But they let the lead slip away moments away from half-time. Frederick Ansah Botchway released a pass that split the defense and got fellow midfielder Seidu Suraj behind them before lobbing the ball over a helpless Abdulai Iddrisu.
Hearts seized control of the game from the start of the second half. But coach Samuel Boadu’s side had goalkeeper Iddrisu standing between them and the next goal, he denied them with back-to-back point-blank saves.
Bechem talisman Augustine Okrah endured quite a frustrating afternoon, not getting the balls as he would prefer. And in what was his last action of the game, he caught the left leg of goalkeeper Richard Attah with an ill-timed tackle in a bid to win possession in the 86th minute.
Okrah escaped a straight red card as he only got a yellow from referee Eric Owusu Prempeh. He was immediately yanked off by coach Kassim Mingle.
Bechem’s 1-1 draw with Hearts means Asante Kotoko can take an 11-point lead at the top of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League standings should they beat Aduana FC at home on Sunday. The Hunters are now on 47 points while the Phobians, in 3rd place, have 44 points from 28 games.
Goalkeeper Abdulai Iddrisu won the NASCO man-of-the-match award.
