In an exciting showdown at the Theater of Dreams in Dawu, Dreams FC clinched a 1-0 victory against league debutants, Nations FC in one of two outstanding fixtures from the 2023/24 Bet Pawa Ghana Premier League.
This follows Dreams FC’s African inter-club engagements which led to the rescheduling of this game from its initially proposed weekend slot.
Hard earned Dreams Victory
A first-half strike by Ebenezer Adade was enough to secure all 3 points for the ‘Still Believe’ lads in their opening game.
Dreams FC went into their encounter against Nations FC beaming with confidence in similar fashion to their encounter with Sierra Leonean side FC Kallon on Saturday in the CAF Confederations Cup preliminary qualifier; the club landed a victory over their Sierra Leonean opponents in the first leg by 2-1 at the Accra sports stadium on Saturday.
An early goal on the 8th minute from Ebenezer Adade set the wind in the sails for Dreams FC, with a half chance falling the way of Adade who directed his ferocious strike past an outstretched Rabin Ousmane Sanon into the bottom right hand corner of the net to send the Dawu fans into raptures.
What followed left little to be desired from the home side as Dreams FC’s goal stung the Premier league debutants into life.
Nafiu Sulemana fromnNations FC proved to be a malice for the defensive set up of Dreams FC. He seemed to have squared the game 3 minutes after falling behind but his celebrations were short lived as the goal was ruled out for an offside. However,Sulemana was not perturbed by the incident and was through on goal a minute later, with his first time shot, hiwever being parried away by Solomon Agbesi.
Dreams FC had shouts of a penalty waved off as Enoch Abuu was brought down in the box on the 34th minute, but it was Nations FC who finished the half the stronger of the two sides despite being a goal down with another missed opportunity from Issac Botchways set piece before the break.
The game was well hanging in the balance at the commencement of the second half with Barimah Baah closely heading into the hour mark, followed by another denial by Solomon Agbesie. Nations FC were nearly made to pay for their spurned opportunities as second half substitute, Ishmael Dede set up talisman John Antwi who steered his effort right across the face of goal.
An end to end finale saw Barimah Baah within touching distance of earning a point for Nations FC, but it was not to be as his first time hit was deflected and turned out for a corner kick. Dreams had the opportunity to put day light between themselves and their visitors but failed to capitalize on the opportunity as John Antwi was put through on goal once more; he was hurriedly closed down by Nations FC’s goalkeeper Rabin Ousmane.
Nations FC threw bodies forward deep in stoppage time in search for an equalizer and were inches away from nicking it as Nafiu Sulemana delivered an incisive ball from the right hand side of the penalty box into Ishmael Antwi, whose side-foot attempt went agonizingly close from creeping into the left hand post.
The ‘Still Believe’ boys managed to hold on to their 1-0 first half early advantage to beat debutants Nations FC in the their first fixture of the 2023/2024 Bet Pawa Ghana Premier league.
Nations FC will be proud of the resilience portrayed as they made a good account of their performance. They will be looking to earn their first points in the top flight when they play host to Sarmatex FC, whereas Dreams FC travel to take on Bechem United at the Nana Gyeabour park on match day 2.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo | univers.ug.edu.gh
