Accra Great Olympics survived numerous threats from a well-drilled Karela United side to draw 0-0 in their Ghana Premier League (GPL) week 10 match played on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
On home soil, what happened to be Yaw Preko’s second game in charge of the Wonder Club was their worse performance of the season.
Olympics were not only pegged back by the more adventurous and purposeful Karela side but were forced to concede several fouls at dangerous areas but the visitors were poor from the set pieces.
The height of Oly’s woes was the substitution of king pin Samuel Abbey Ashie Quaye in the second half after a poor display.
The move attracted sharp protest from the few fans especially when his replacement, David Amuzu operated in his shadows.
Karela kicked off and indicated their intention under a minute when Oly midfielder Charles Danso lost his marker, Diawisie Taylor who unleashed a terrific shot over an advanced Oly goalkeeper, Saeed Salifu but the ball hit the cross bar.
Karela threatened in the second minute when a Darlingthon Gyan Fosu shot across the Olympics goal to keep their fan on edge.
The home side gave their fans something to smile about in the fourth minute when winger turned striker, Maxwell Abbey Quaye beat an offside trap but after a poor control, he shot feebly into Richard Baidoo’s in Karela’s goal.
With the home short on ideas, Coach Yaw Preko was forced to order early warm ups for changes as they succumbed possession to Karela who broke the Oly back lines with ease.
They were, however, denied in the 35th minute when a brilliant curl from Ashie Quaye flew over all but hit Karela’s goal post with keeper Baidoo grabbing the rebound.
Coach Evans Adotey had his tactics right as they ‘policed’ the Oly dangermen, Gladson Awako, Michel Otou and Ashie Quaye to render the ‘AGOSU’ armada ineffective.
The second half was not different for the Wonder Club who struggled to penetrate the Karela defence with Maxwell Abbey posing no threat.
The only chance of note was a free kick executed by Awako midway through but it went straight in the waiting arms of Baidoo.
Rather, it was Karela through Umar Bashiru, Gyan Fosu, Taylor and Karamudini Mahmoud who probed but also failed to break the Oly rear.
For Karela, it was a good try considering their uninspiring away form but Olympics will ruin the failure to amass all three points as they face city rivals, Hearts of Oak.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
