UGFL: Alexander Kwapong hall beats Legon hall to advance to first ever final

The Alexander Kwapong Hall has gone the extra mile to book a spot in their first-ever University of Ghana football league (UGFL) final after playing out a 1-1 stalemate with Legon hall in regulation time yesterday at the Sarbah Main field.

Legon hall, who had vast experience under their belt in UGFL completions based on their past participations, was semi-finalist last season; hence they went in to the game against a relatively inexperienced Kwapong side and were the much fancied of both sides to carry the day.

However, the first half of the game proved to be a stop-and-start affair in an equally balanced half with an accumulated foul count of 14 being the major highlight.

Both teams were culpable of committing cynical challenges, with Legon hall accounting for 7 of the 14 fouls and Kwapong guilty of 7 as well. Although the main theme in a fiercely contested half had been untimely infringements, the referee on the day showed much aberration and dished out 2 yellow cards to both sides before the break, despite the intense aggression on display.

The pep talk from the managers at the interval changed the dynamics of the game, with both teams displaying a high level of technical efficiency, which was soon rewarded when Nathaniel Tortimeh shot Alexander Kwapong hall ahead; Tortimeh showed great physical strength to latch on to a 40 yard hoofed ball from the defense, before glancing the ball into the bottom left hand corner past an outstretched Patrick Akubilla of Legon hall to put Kwapong ahead after 50 minutes.

After Nathaniel’s strike, the momentum had swang the way of the diaspora hall with Kwapong making several incursions on goal; Nathaniel Tortimeh was through on goal once more but his effort was parried out by Patrick Akubilla.

The Kwapong euphoric jubilations were shushed and replaced by a jittery feel amongst various sects of their fanbase when their goalkeeper, Sanjay went down for a severe medical attention, of which he recovered.

Legon hall on the other hand, were seemingly played off the park by Kwapong hall heading into the hour mark. And to worsen their plight, Legon hall were made to pay for their reckless challenges committed largely in the first half; midfielder Kofi Boateng was shown his matching orders for decent after initially booked in the first half.

A managerial tweak from Coach Nii of Legon hall saw his side fight out of their skins to dictate proceedings; Benjamin Korto steered his header narrowly wide off the post in the 73rd minute.

The incessant pressure applied by the 10-man Legon hall team paid off with Kwapong hall goalkeeper, Sanjay, committing a blunder by dropping the ball to Mohammed Abubakari, who placed the ball into an open goal.

Legon hall almost nicked the winner in the dying embers of the game,but Kwapong’s Sanjay Belthon made a smart save down right to deny Dennis Dogbey from close range, as the match ended in a stalemate and headed into a penalty shootout.

Both goalkeepers were full of hubris ahead of the shootout, but none could lay a glove on the ball. Yaw Acheamfuor’s off target attempt during ‘sudden death’ proved to be decisive, with Kwapong’s skipper, Hafiz Abdul stepping up to dispatch the ball into the net to send Kwapong to their first ever final of the UGFL and help them win by 5-4 in the shootout.

The defeat leaves Legon hall in a keenly contested 3rd and 4th play-off battle with defending and record champions Akuafo hall, who fell to Elizabeth Frances Sey hall by a goal to nil.

Meanwhile,Alexander Kwapong hall are braced for an enthralling first-ever diaspora final matchup against Elizabeth Frances Sey hall in the UGFL final.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo | univers.ug.edu.gh