Accra, Feb. 29, GNA – Liberty Professionals came from behind to spank visiting Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs 3-1 in their week 18 Glo Premiership encounter played on Wednesday at the Sly Tetteh Stadium in Dansoman.
A second half brace from leading marksman Latif Salifu and the other from substitute Kwame Boahene aided Liberty to cruise over a 10-man Ebusua Dwarfs side who incidentallly shot into the lead early in the second half through Eric Poku.
The visitors, however, have themselves to blame for returning to their base empty handed in a game they outplayed their opponents with possession in the early stages.
Along the lines, FIFA referee Reginald Lathbridge made the headlines for reversing a red card on Liberty defender Richard Antwi for a yellow card in a decision that incurred the wrath of the travelling fans.
Instead of the expected yellow card due to the measure of the tackle, referee Lathbridge inadvertently pulled out the red card from his breast pocket, but was quick to reverse the caution, further denting his stained popularity in the eyes of the fans of Ebusua Dwarfs.
Dwarfs had the better of the exchanges in the first half but failed to hit the back of the net to the dismay of their expectant fans.
Just before end of the half, the visitors were dealt a major blow after goalie Foli Adade was pulled out for Ernest Boateng after sustaining an injury.
Seven minutes into the second half, Dwarfs took a well deserved lead through Opoku, who curled in from long range after spotting Liberty goalie Akwasi Acheampong off his line.
The lead will only last for 14 minutes before Salifu drew parity after firing past onrushing substitute Dwarfs goalie Boateng after Issa Yakubu put him through.
The match was almost heading for a draw before Dwarfs suffered a numerical disadvantage after defender Abdul Razak was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball challenge on Liberty midfielder Boahene.
Liberty capitalised on their numerical power with raids into the visitors half, which yielded dividends on the stroke of full time with Boahene slotting home from a goalmouth scramble.
In added-on time, Salifu finished off a three-man move involving Boahene and Ernest Boateng to seal the victory for the Dansoman lads.
It was Boahene who the initialed the move that fetched Boateng the chance to outwit his marker before crossing for Salifu to head home past the Dwarfs goalie for a convincing victory.
