GPL Preview: Five games you cannot miss on matchday 10

LIBERTY PROFESSIONALS vs WA ALL STARS - DANSOMAN

Two of the bottom clubs face each other this weekend. Liberty Professionals lie 15th after taking seven points from a possible 24. Their 2-1 defeat to Berekum Chelsea last Monday means the scientific soccer lads are without a win in their last three fixtures. On Saturday, they face bottom dwellers Wa All Stars at the Karl Reindorf Park.

Wa All Stars are looking at relegation as it stands. They’ve secured just a point from their last five matches, with a five point haul after nine games. Coached by Sarfo Castro, the side need to turn on the tap in front of goal as they are the least scoring side in the division (four).

The two teams continue to bleed in defense as they’ve conceded 11 each. But Liberty, with seven goals scored, have better odds of netting. Striker Benjamin Eshun alone has three goals, while the whole All Stars team has four. 

Both clubs will look to halt their poor run of bad results to dispel any relegation fears.

ADUANA STARS vs BEREKUM CHELSEA - DORMAA

Once again, Aduana Stars failed to replicate their dominant home form in an away game. This weekend, they play host to Berekum Chelsea as they look to overcome the continental hangover from a 2-0 defeat to Dreams FC in their last game.

Currently 14th, Aduana have four outstanding games. The league champions have accumulated seven points from the 15 available but have got an incredible home record - 10 league goals in two games.

Berekum Chelsea have produced some decent performances in recent weeks. They are unbeaten in their last three games and have lost one in five. They sit in 10th after amassing 11 points in nine games, while scoring eight and conceding six.

If the visitors are to continue their sudden okay form of recent weeks against the champions, it’s imperative that they remain disciplined in defense. While their current run gives cause for optimism, the Berekum side need to find a way to suppress Aduana’s attack that has the likes of Yahaya Mohammed, Zakaria Mumuni and Nathaniel Asamoah.

Dreams FC’s performance against Aduana Stars provides a perfect template to unsettle the league champions, but it’s hard to see coach Svetislav's men get a respite in Dormaa. The visitors don’t match up well against the home side as Aduana Stars have won all their last three home games against Berekum Chelsea.

WAFA VS DREAMS FC - SOGAKOPE

WAFA seems to have rediscovered their scoring knack after putting three goals past Dwarfs - away - last weekend. Despite conceding two in the process, the importance of that victory is mostly mental - it gives them confidence ahead of their next game. 

On matchday 10, they play Dreams FC at the Sogakope Park where they’ve failed to win in two games. Temporary WAFA boss Sadiq Abubakar’s boys are ninth on the league rung on 11 points. In spite of their poor run in the last five games prior to the latest victory, the home side have the highest goal tally in the division with 12 but have conceded the same number.   

Following a string of mature performances in recent weeks, Dreams FC have moved up into second, deadlocked on points with league leaders Ashantigold. Three wins on the spin including a standout 2-0 display against Aduana last weekend means, the Dawu lads have kept clean sheets in their last three games.

Suddenly they look a different proposition. Finnish coach Juha Pasoja will have a first-hand experience in the GPL as he takes charge of his Dreams debut. Dreams FC have shown confidence in their away performance even if they haven’t always collected wins. Compared to WAFA, the visitors are much more frugal at the back after conceding just four goals so far this season.

Both teams have the necessary quality in their arsenal to win this game, with Zuberu Sharani finding his scoring boots for Dreams recently. But the home side will be confident in their own troops of players like Richard Danso, Charles Boateng and Aminu Mohammed.

With Ashantigold engaging Medeama away from home, Dreams will fancy their chance of overtaking the league leaders with a win. 

KOTOKO VS HEARTS - KUMASI

Kotoko picked up their first win on the road this season with a 2-0 win over Wa All Stars last weekend. On Sunday the Porcupine Warriors host arch-rivals Hearts of Oak and are strong favourites going into the Super Clash as both teams try to re-establish themselves as genuine forces in the league.

The home side are yet to lose at the Baba Yara Stadium this season with three wins and a draw. Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin's side are beginning to find the net, but not quite often enough. 

The question is, can they capitalize on Hearts of Oak’s blues?

The Phobians are currently struggling as they’ve pinched just a point from nine available in their last three matches. Now, here is something for the superstitious fan. Born in 1911, Hearts of Oak are 11th with 11 points, with 11 goals. Despite finding the net three more than their opponents, the major negative going into this game is how pliable Hearts defence can be.

The visitors have the worst defensive record in the league with 14 goals conceded. However, key players Patrick Razak and Joseph Esso will relish the opportunity to cause Kotoko problems in Kumasi as both players have got pace to burn. But fans will want to see evidence of improvement at the back.

Kotoko need to perform better defensively and more importantly, offensively, as a win will bring them within a touching distance of the top four, while a defeat for Hearts will see them remain in the lower reaches of the table.

 

MEDEAMA VS ASHANTIGOLD - T&A PARK

Medeama have dropped to fifth after their 1-0 defeat to Eleven Wonders on matchday nine. This Saturday, they welcome table toppers Ashantigold, in a game that will have significant impact at the head of the league table.

The Yellow and Mauve’s resurgence seems to have tailed off a bit after losing at Eleven Wonders last week. Medeama are not the most efficient side in an attacking context - they have scored the lowest tally of the top teams with - six goals in seven matches. That, should be a source of worry to coach Samuel Badu as they come up against a C.K Akonnor side that have found the net on 10 occasions.   

Ashantigold bounced back from their 1-1 stalemate at WAFA to beat Inter Allies by a lone goal to maintain their position at the top of the table with 17 points. The miners, are also skilled in restricting opponents to a few goalscoring opportunities haven shipped in four goals so far. The visitors have played a game more than the host and will look to stretch the gap between them and Medeama from four to seven this weekend.

The Tarkwa-based club have been impressive at home this season as they are yet to drop points at the TNA Park. Medeama can’t afford to slip against Ashgold as a legion of clubs are just a point or two behind them. C. K. Akonnor’s team have got inspiring results at the T&A Park after securing a 0-1 win and a 3-3 draw in their last two meetings at this venue.

This game has all the key ingredients of a great encounter.

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