Aduana Stars defeated Dreams FC by a lone goal to nil in the G-8 Group A fixture at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both clubs paraded a solid squad and played the same formation with two strikers leading the attack with a play maker behind them.
Dreams FC started the game brightly with some good interpersonal play in the first couple of minutes as they got Aduana Stars unsettled.
The 2016/2017 Ghana Premier League champions resorted to cynical play in the early stages of the game and Stephen Anokye Badu was lucky to stay on the field as a slap on the face of Dreams Skipper Leonard Owusu was unnoticed by referee Charles Bulu.
The first clear chance of the game fell to Maxwell Arthur in the 10th minute but his cross from a perfect work-out from Zuberu Sharani was saved by opposing goalkeeper, Joseph Addo.
In the space of five minutes, Aduana Stars opened fire on Dreams FC but with goalkeeper Ishawu Yahaya at his mercy, Sam Adams blasted the ball over the bar from seven yards.
Aduana Stars had a tough customer in the shape of Zuberu Sharani as anytime he got the ball, the likes of Anokye Badu, Hafiz Adams and others had to retreat.
A quick counter-attack from the left in the 29th minute saw Muntari Kamahini covering lots of grass but his final delivery was poor as goalkeeper Joseph Addo saved it with ease.
Dreams FC midfielder Patrick Arthur was booked in the 32nd minute for a foul on Nathaniel Asamoah in the 32nd minute but the kick was wasted.
Against the run of play, Aduana Stars had a corner in the 38th minute and the Dreams FC defenders were caught ball watching as Abdul Fatawu Rahman headed in from the far corner to give his side the lead.
Despite conceding a goal, Dreams FC finished the first half on top as the referee blew his whistle. Aduana Stars piled pressure on Dreams FC in the second half and could have gone 2-0 up in the 48th minute but Nathaniel Asamoah’s fantastic drive inside the box was stupendously saved by goalkeeper Ishawu Yahaya.
Aduana Stars coach Yussif Abubakar made double substitution bringing in Bright ADJEI AND Oba Ikama for Nathaniel Asamoah and Fatawu Rahman respectively.
Dreams FC also brought in Benjamin Ayim for James Wiafe and Michael Sarpong for Eric Gawu in the 79th minute as manager Karim Zito varied his tactics in the last eleven minutes of the game.
The action shifted to the midfield with both clubs taking delight in just passing the ball around with no intentions of threatening the opponent’s vital area.
Despite a late onslaught from Dreams FC, Aduana Stars held on till the knight of the whistle signaled for the end of the game.
Dreams FC will face Kotoko on Wednesday whilst Aduana Stars also lock horns with Techiman Eleven Wonders.