Real Tamale United (RTU) have defeated Accra Hearts Of Oak in the 2023/24 Bet Pawa Ghana premier league season’s opener.
This was defined after RTU secured all three points against Accra Hearts of Oak in the first game of the league.
Accra Hearts of Oak struggled against RTU at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium with Friday night’s spectacle being no different as the Accra based side took on the Pride of the North in a pulsating fixture.
Real Tamale United exerted themselves on the Phobians in the early exchanges where RTU’s first half supremacy was nearly rewarded on the half hour mark. Hearts of Oak’s shot stopper, Richard Attah rushed out of his goal following a hoofed ball from RTU, but Attah failed to clear the ball after a lapse of concentration and miscommunication between himself and Kelvin Assibey, eventually putting Alhassan Manyukeli on goal for RTU through a hit on the side net of an open goal .
RTU were relentless in their attacking display and kept piling pressure on Hearts Oak, but goalkeeper Richard Attah was equally up to the task and made two top draw saves in the 32nd and 36th minute respectively to ensure both sides went into the break on level pegging.
The trajectory of the second half was indifferent to that of the first as the phobians were struggling to find their grove being limited to half chances.
Real Tamale United were deservedly rewarded in stoppage time following a corner kick, of which Richard Attah failed to claim despite his attempt to fluff out the shot. This allowed RTU’s Owusu Afriyie to out jump the goalkeeper and the defense to guide his header into the net, giving Hearts of Oak no time to get back into the game.
Any pre season chatter of a title charge has quickly been quenched as the Phobians are left to reassess themselves amid concerns from last season as debutants Wanet Kashala Ramos, Kofi Agbesimah, Evans Adomarko, Martin Karikari, Michael Ampedu, Kelvin Osei-Asibey and Liventius Attur could do little to prevent the defeat.
On the other hand, RTU gaffer, Abdul Mumin Abdulai will be delighted with his new crop of players as they combined well with some regular players from last season such as Mohammed Hardi, Baba Kushibo, Hafiz Adams, Iddrisu Gadafi and Mohammed Alhassan Manykuyeli to secure a hard fought victory.
As Hearts Of Oak remain winless against RTU in their last 5 meetings with 4 defeats and a draw, the Phobians would need to get their season back on track when they host Nsoatream FC in the second gameweek where as RTU would be facing Bofoakwa Tano.
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Story by: Asack Pius and Andrews Sefa Bamfo | univers.ug.edu.gh
