Akuafo hall have secured their place in the final of the 2023 University of Ghana Football league (UGFL), following a convincing 2-1 victory over Elizabeth Frances Sey hall at the UG Main Field.
Ismael Fuseini and Jojo Dadson put the Farmers in a comfortable lead, and despite a late consolation goal from Elizabeth Sey hall in the dying embers, the game was far beyond the reach of the side from the northern campus.
The Farmers struggled to exert themselves in the first half of the game as the Frances looked well coordinated and organized on and off the ball.
In what was a boring and balanced first half the game saw very little action up front, with poor passing rhythm and untimed runs.
A promising Akuafo build up released Zamani in-behind the defensive line but the forward’s amazing run was well read by Sey goalie, Nathan.
But just before the recess, Aidoo teed up with Selasie from a corner kick before the latter’s gorgeous cross was tucked in by a Ishmael Fuseini header, to give the Farmers the lead.
Fuseini connected again with Selasie but he failed to direct his header goal wards.
The Frances were more aggressive in the second. and almost got their dream response.
An in-box melee released Frances Mundo in the Akuafo penalty box, but the skipper had little time to maneuver the sea of green shirts. His squared pass to Noel was too feeble, but the striker improvised well with back-heeled flick that greased the left post before it tumbled off.
Mundo drilled a shot wide from 22yards moments after K. Baah delayed a promising counter attack. allowing Akuafo to reorganize.
The Frances grew in ambition and began to flood the Akuafo half with yellow shirts in search of the equalizer.
The Farmers played on the back foot and were forced to reshuffle personnel in a tactical switch where Coach Ebenezer threw on Jojo Dadson.
The lively winger needed only 15 minutes to make an impression, unleashing a thunderbolt from 6 yards to extend Akuafo’s. The winger eluded the defence and had all the time to fire in a second after he was left unmarked in the heart of the Sey hall defence.
The Frances fought back and pulled one back and a comeback looked imminent until a moment of madness fueled out of Fraustration.
Frances skipper Mundo saw a straight red following a repraisal reaction when his run towards the Akuafo goal was truncated by a tactical foul ending a dangerous counter attack . Mundo was advancing toward goal in a 4v2 situation before he was dragged off the ball by Ishmael Fuseini who was issued a yellow card moments before Mundo was given his marching orders.
The Frances could have staged a historic comeback in the final minute of Injury time, but for an unforgivable miss by K. Baah. The Sey man broke loose into the Akuafo box, getting to the end of a long pass, when he completed a diagonal run in-behind to come one-on-one with Akuafo Goalkeeper, Vincent, but Baah opted to round the goalie rather than shoot in what was virtually the last kick of the game.
Akuafo hall have now qualified to their 4th final in the last 7 editions of the UGFL.
The Farmers will face the winner of Legon hall versus Hilla Limann Hall in the final of the 2023 University of Ghana Football League.
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Story by | Godfred Kweku Dampte-Larbi | univers.ug.edu.gh
