Division One side Tano Bofoakwa handed Ghana Premier League side Berekum Chelsea a reality check after beating them 1-0 in a preseason friendly duel at the Coronation Park in Sunyani on Sunday afternoon.
The former Premier League side totally dominated and outclassed the Berekum based side who are stepping up their preparations ahead of the new top-flight season next weekend.
Substitute Ibrahim Musah Bakayoko superbly connected home an Akwasi Appiah tailor-measured cross from the left to hand over victory to the Sunyani-based side.
Kick off delayed for well over an hour after the visitors’ bus broke down and had to change buses. Just a little over 200 fans were seated for the action before kick off.
Chelsea, who open their Ghana Premier League campaign with a home test against Elmina Sharks this weekend, paraded all their strongmen.
The Blues’ last visit to the venue ended in a 1-0 win over B.A United and were aiming to complete a brace of wins at the Coronation Park.
But, the Zone One side had ideas of their own and stamped their authority from the start.
A swift switch from the right wings fed Osman Mustapha with a neat pass and the lanky attacker dazzled his marker with a touch of flamboyance before cleverly thrusting a ‘falling-leave’ shot which beat the Chelsea keeper but crashed the crossbar.
That was an early declaration of intent and the bumper of sumptuous individual and team cohesive display perpetuated for the first 45 minutes from the Green and Whites.
Bofoakwa tried almost half a dozen times to crack open the Chelsea defence but were insufficient in attack as Mohammed Gago and his midfield partners had their supplies in deficit.
Chelsea’s clearest chance in the first-half was a sharp response to Bofoakwa’s early minute strike in which goalkeeper Anthony Asamoah expertly saved an intelligent cunning play by Chelsea.
The Bofoakwa coach rang changes after the break and his tactical variation and substitution did the trick.
Samuel Asamoah conjured a magic as he initiated a silky passing play to play through Appiah at the right and he sent in a cross for Musah to volley home for the game’s only goal.
Chelsea tried to forge a comeback and staged a number of goalmouth scrambles but Bofoakwa defended steadily.
In one such attacks Asamoah was out powered in a midair challenge which the referee adjudged to be fair. The loose ball fell to a Chelsea player at the edge of the box.
He powered at goal only for his goal-bound drive to be tamed for the Hunters stalwart defender spotting the no. 12 jersey.
In the last 10 minutes of the game Bofo reduced the game to a training ground rehearse play though Chelsea pulled a world class save from Anthony Asamoah.
By El Akyereko at the Coronation Park in Sunyani
