GHANA Premier League sides, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea, over the weekend booked their spots at the semifinal stage of the 2024-25 MTN FA Cup competition after quarter final matches were honoured in a football festival at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
With all quarter final matches staged at one venue over two days, Kotoko halted the impressive run of Division One League (DOL) side, True Democracy, with a 2-1 victory with a late kick off match on Sunday.
Saaka Dauda gave the Porcupine Warriors a 12th minute lead to set the stage for what fans expected could be a goal festival.
But True Demo hit back in the 62nd minute when Isaac Botchwey stunned the Porcupine Warriors with a free kick that deflected off the defensive wall into the net.
But a late winner from Kwame Opoku restored Kotoko’s lead to snatch the ticket for the semifinal stage.
In an all Premier League clash, Berekum Chelsea defeated Bechem United 1-0 with a 30th minute strike from Stephen Amankonah to snatch the semifinal ticket.
For the Chelsea side that are out of the reckoning for league honours, it was business as usual as they featured a strong side for the game.
They showed that clear intent and were the first to threaten goal as Amankona drilled a fierce shot in the 10th minute which Aziz Adaari in post for Bechem United saved.
The next attack initiated by Amankonah ended at the back of the net as a second shot from inside the box beat Adaari this time for the only goal of the match.
Goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Ibrahim also emerged the hero for Attram De Visser as they came back from a goal down to win over PAC Academy on Saturday.
The goalkeeper, who came on as a 93rd-minute substitute, saved two penalties as Attram De Visser romped to a 4-3 win in the shootout, cruising to the semifinals of the competition.
PAC Academy took a deserved lead after a penalty was awarded them in the 63rd minute when Joseph Kojo Junior was fouled in the box. Captain Evans Sarfo scored from the spot.
But late into the game, Gabriel Matumassey broke PAC Academy’s hearts with a 93rd-minute equaliser with a great header.
In the shootouts, goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Ibrahim saved two from Samed Kyei and Bernard Asante, securing Attram De Visser’s 4-3 win in the shootout to secure their first semifinal in the history of the MTN FA Cup.
Golden Kick continued with their heroics in the competition as they chalked another feat over Premier League side, Karela United.
Coming from giant-killing feats over Hearts of Oak, they held Karela to a goalless encounter before winning 5-3 on penalties to book a semifinal place.
The semifinals matches have been scheduled for May 9-12 in Tarkwa with the grand finale set for June 14/15.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
