The Ghana Premier League entered week two with the defending champions Medeama SC travelling to Aduana FC in search of their first three points of the season.
Medeama, who qualified for the next round of the CAF Champions League at the expense of Nigerian side Remo Stars, stumbled in their first league game this term.
At home to Accra Lions, they drew 2-2, while their hosts this weekend did not fare better.
Aduana Stars lost away to Samartex by a lone goal. The results from week one meant that a win took on more importance.
With this in mind, the fans expected a cracker.
Aduana fails to trouble their guests
Recent history favours the hosts, as they have won eight out of their last ten home encounters against the league champions.
The last three years saw Aduana Stars winning two and drawing one at home to Medeama.
It set the tone for a cracking encounter as Medeama looked to change their fortunes against the two-time Ghana Premier League winners.
Both sides had little to show in the first half, which questioned how far Medeama could go in the CAF Champions League.
The Dormaa Ahenkro side showed Medeama they needed to hone their finishing abilities to go far in the continental competition.
The first half saw few chances created by both sides and produced no goals.
The best chance of the first half fell to Medeama. It was a curler from a distance that came off the crossbar.
Medeama fail Aduana test
The home side was more forceful in the second half, as they questioned the credentials of the defending champions.
The home side was fast out of the blocks in the second half, and four minutes in, they got the curtain raiser.
Bright Adjei was in the right place at the right time and made the right decision to put his side in the lead.
From then on, the momentum was firmly with the home side as they pushed for a second goal that would make the tie comfortable.
Resolute defending kept Medeama in the game and in with a chance to get at least a point, but Aduana had tasted blood and continued to go in for the kill.
With 13 minutes of regulation time to go, Aduana put the game to bed. Gabriel Akwesi Mensah scored his first goal for the Dormaa Ahenkro side and gave them a comfortable lead.
Can Medeama survive the group stage of the CAF Champions League?
On the evidence of their first-half performance, Medeama would need to do a deep reflection as they travel to Horoya for the second leg of their CAF Champions League tie.
They won the first leg at home to Horoya 3-1 but had a red card to thank for their fortunes.
A 3-1 lead is comfortable enough to take to their less fancied Guinean side, but if they're to keep to their promise of doing well in the Champions League, they will need to do better.
Conclusion
The loss to Aduana puts a dent in Medeama's title credentials as they pursue a place in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
It is not the best way for Medeama to start the season despite doing well on the continent.
It is a stark reminder that the Betpawa Ghana Premier League is not child's play, and if Medeama wants to retain its title, it should win games like this.
Line ups
Aduana
Yaw Ansah (GK), Rich Saackey, Sam Adams, Bright Adjei, Richard Tetteh, Isaac Mintah, Felix Owusu, Alex Boakye, Bright Enchil, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Zakaria Mumuni
Subs
Thomas Boateng, Derrick Afeson, Shaibu Iddrisu, Justus Tortsutsey, Gabriel A. Mensah, Douglas Owus Ansah, Inusah Masawudu, Afriyie Richard, Fatau Neire
Medeama SC
Feelix Kyei, Nurudeen A., Kofi Asmah, Kamaradini M, Nkrumah Ebenezer, Emmanuel Cudjoe, Azariah Fordjour, Baba Musa, Benjamin Bature, Dzakpasu, Lomotey Daniel
Subs
Kubi, Akrofi, Larbi, Mahachi, Osman, Dwumah, Agyemang, Abban
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
