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Football

GPL: Four key games to lookout for on matchday 5

For the first time since matchday two, all 18 teams will be involved with no postponed games.

Asante Kotoko come off the back of progression in the preliminary stages of the CAF Champions League after FC Nouadhibou failed to show up.

Contrastingly, AshGold couldn’t match the feat of their regional rivals as they were knocked out of the Confederations Cup by Salitas FC.

Last week, our four selected games saw Karela maintain their unbeaten run against Hearts, a cracking encouter between Dreams FC and Legon Cities which produced a red card, and King Faisal extend their good form with a victory over Inter Allies.

Here are the nine fixtures on matchday five:

These are the four key games you can’t afford to miss this matchday:

Asante Kotoko vs Legon Cities

Kotoko have failed to pick any real momentum domestically due to their exploits in Africa. However, the Porcupine Warriors are aware of their poor home form as they are yet to pick a win after two games.

Although the second leg against Nouadhibou was cancelled, the game in Mauritania once again demonstrated Kotoko’s inability to protect leads. It was the third time Maxwell Konadu’s men had failed to protect a one goal lead in as many games.

Up next for Kotoko is a home game against Legon Cities at the Accra Sports stadium. The Royals are also winless this season but have a compounding problem from seasons past. They are winless on the road in more than three years and new coach Bashir Hayford will be looking to end that streak.

His first game in charge saw improvements defensively as his side kept a clean sheet. However, the primary problem for the Accra-based side has been the lack of goals. For a second consecutive game, Legon Cities failed to find the net and have now just scored one goal this season.

It should be fireworks at the Accra Sports stadium when these two sides who emphatically need a win clash.

Stadium: Accra Sports stadium, Accra

Time: Friday, 18:00GMT

Prediction: Asante Kotoko 2-0 Legon Cities

Hearts of Oak vs Dreams FC

Hearts of Oak are yet to hit the heights expected this season after picking up two points from their first three games this season.

New coach Kosta Papic sat in the stands as his side were once again wasteful infront of goal, missing key chances in goalless draw with table toppers Karela.

Against Dreams, Papic will be on the sidelines controlling affairs. His immediate mandate will be to get the Phobians scoring again. After scoring two goals against AshGold on matchday one, Hearts have failed to hit the back of the net in two consecutive games.

Dreams have been a tough nut to crack for teams this season keeping two cleansheets against Inter Allies and Legon Cities.

The Still Believe boys have blown hot and cold this season picking up five points from three games.

Head coach Winfred Dormon will be looking to squeeze out more consistent results from his side starting with a trip against Hearts.

History favours the Phobians as they have a 100% win rate against Dreams at Accra.

Stadium: Accra Sports stadium, Accra

Time: Sunday, 18:00GMT

Prediction: Hearts of Oak 1-1 Dreams

Liberty Professionals vs Great Olympics

Liberty and Olympics lock horns again just over a month after the two sides met in a pre-season friendly. On that occasion, Olympics came out on top winning 2-1 against Liberty who were a man down.

The dynamics have changed with both sides making contrasting starts to the season. Liberty have drawn three of their four games and sit in 12th place. Olympics on the other hand have made a terrific start to the league picking up four points from their first two games.

At home, Liberty have been a difficult side to beat drawing both of their games.

Olympics come into this game with an added advantage of resting for two weeks after having two successive games postponed.

The Oly Dade boys have the advantage between the two sides when it comes to head-to-head winning six, Liberty have won three and two games have ended in a stalemate.

Stadium: Carl Reindorf Park, Accra

Time: Sunday, 15:00GMT

Prediction: Liberty 1-1 Olympics

AshGold vs Elmina Sharks

AshGold will look to bounce back after crashing out of the Confederations Cup against Salitas.

The Miners were given two days rest by head coach Milovan Cirkovic after returning from Burkina Faso.

The Obuasi-based side face Elmina Sharks this weekend in the league. Sharks have been a surprise package this season and currently sit third on the log.

Due to AshGold’s adventure in Europe, they have played two games less and the table could look very different should they win both games in hand.

Cirkovic asked for time to familiarise himself with the squad and after one month, results would be expected to go the way of the Miners starting this weekend.

Sharks have been impressive on the road so far picking up two draws and are also yet to taste defeat this season.

History backs Sharks in this fixture as they are yet to lose against AshGold.

Stadium: Len Clay stadium, Obuasi

Time: Sunday, 15:00GMT

Prediction: AshGold 1-2 Elmina Sharks

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.



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