Good evening and welcome to the live text commentary of the Ghana Premier League encounter between Hearts of Oak and Karela United.
The game is serving as a Matchday 4 fixture of the ongoing 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League season and is being played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
With a new manager in Kosta Papic, Hearts of Oak is determined to beat Karela United to pick up their first 3 points of the new Ghana Premier League season.
This will be the live text commentary of the crucial game as the footballghana.com team continues its coverage of the Ghanaian top-flight league.
Ahead of kickoff, Hearts of Oka head coach Kotas Papic has named his starting eleven.
Warm-up time! ?⚽️ @HeartsOfOakGH v @KarelaUtd_FC #GPLwk4 #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/4CFBlIU3jH
— Ghana Premier League (@GhanaLeague) December 4, 2020
Kick-off is in 10 minutes.
1' We are off and running at the Accra Sports Stadium under the bright floodlights. Who gets the first goal:
5' Quick exchange of attacks see Karela United win a corner kick. Hearts of Oak's defense stands firm to deal with the threat.
8' Patrick Razak with a good run into the area of Karela United. His cross has too much weight and goes over all the attackers. That is a let-off for the away team.
12' Chance!!! Raddy Ovouka sends in a good cross but striker Abednego Tetteh is unable to keep his header down. So far the home team has been the better side.
15' Game has dragged a bit with Karela United trying to settle into their stride. Meanwhile, Michelle Sarpong of Hearts of Oak needs medical attention.
19' Karela United go on a swift counter-attack. Dangerman Diawisie Taylor tries with a finish but is well-blocked by Mohammed Alhassan. It will be a corner kick. The pressure finally over as Hearts of Oak wins a free-kick.
23' Hearts of Oak continues to dominate play but unable to create the needed goal-scoring opportunities. Good defensive play from the visitors.
25' Mohammed Alhassan with some solid defensive display for Hearts of Oak. Smartly intervenes to cut out an attack of Karela United.
30' We have done half an hour at the Accra Sports Stadium. Still goalless.
35' Hearts of Oak enjoying the lion's share of possession. Unfortunately, they have nothing to show for the dominance.
40' We are just 5 minutes away before going for a break. Will there be a goal before halftime?
42' Free-kick to Hearts of Oak in a dangerous area. Frederick Ansah Botchwey to deliver. A scramble in the there, Mohammed Alhassan with the last effort. The ball brushes off the side netting for a goal kick.
45' We will do a minute of added time at the Accra Sports Stadium. Hearts of Oak 0-0 Karela United.
Halftime ends goalless: We will be back after 15 minutes with the second half updates.
Second half:
46' We are back underway at the Accra Sports Stadium. Will there be a winner in this one?
Substitution: Manaf Umar comes on for Dominic Eshun.
48' Chance!! Hearts of Oak with the first chance of the second half. Michelle Sarpong with a terrible hit that goes over the bar. What a wasted opportunity.
50' Hearts of Oak's defense split apart. Diawisie Taylor goes on a foot race with Mohammed Alhassan but is beaten by the defender.
51' What a HIT! Michelle Sarpong riffles on into the upright. That would have been a wonderful goal. Looks like we are in for packed action.
53' Substitution for Karela United: Franklin Osei out for Joseph Cudjoe for Karela.
59 ' Kwadjo Obeng Jnr replaces Abednego Tetteh for Hearts.
63' Hearts of Oak playing some nice football but lacking the cutting edge to slice through the visitors.
65' Substitution: Hearts' of Oak loaner Richard Baidoo comes on for Yaw Ansah Fuforo in post for Karela who is injured and can't continue play.
70' Still no goal. This has been a keenly contested encounter. Will there be a goal?
75' Hearts of Oak continue to dominate. But for the resolute defending of Karela United, the game remains barren.
80' We are into the final 10 minutes of today's encounter.
82' Substitution for Karela United: Umar Bashiru comes on for Gidfred Yeboah for Karela.
90' We will do 7 minutes of added time.