Gold Stars etched their name in the history book of Ghana Premier League (GPL) winners after crowning the season’s hard work with a 4-0 battering of Accra Lions in the final day games of the 2024/25 season yesterday, to win the championship.
Mathematically, Nations FC and Asante Kotoko remained in the fray for the title, creating a tensed atmosphere around the venues of the three clubs.
However, convincing losses by the main challengers diffused the tension as first the time league winners showed no mercy on Accra Lions, drilling the nails into the coffin for relegation.
Needing a convincing win at Tema and hope for losses for the eventual winners and Nations FC, the Porcupine Warriors failed to live up to expectation despite drawing first blood and collapsed to a 3-1 defeat to major survivors, Vision FC.
Kotoko snatched the leader in the 38th minute through midfielder Emmanuel Antwi but sparked a little excitement from their followers.
This was because Gold Stars had taken a deserved 2-0 lead over the relegated Accra Lions side with the two goals coming from A. Amoaful and K. Oppong in the fourth and 19th minutes, respectively.
Obviously, the result had a toll on the Asanteman Warriors who showed a pale shadow of the form they have exhibited since Coack Karim Zito took charge.
Throughout the game, Vision FC’s strategy of loading the midfield was a problem for Kotoko as they struggled to find a way through.
The host snatched the equaliser four minutes into the second half as Edmond Asante fired home from close range from one of the many defensive lapses in Kotoko’s play.
It got worse for the Reds after Gold Stars scored their third goal by Attah Kumi in the 73rd minute, ruling out any comeback from the tamed Lions from Accra.
Knowing there was nothing at stake to play for again, Kotoko’s game was clearly affected as Vision FC dominated play and kept the visitors’ area boiling as they aimed to win to end the season on high.
Substitute Frank Duku was then introduced to run the show for the host; a task he accomplished with aplomb.
With a Kotoko defence in ruins, Duku capitalised on another defensive mishap to snatch the leader in the 81st minute and killed off any attempt of a fight back by Kotoko by scoring the third goal to send their fans into raptures as Karim Zito suffered his first defeat in the Kotoko role.
It was a perfect icing on the cake for a side that faced relegation at a point in time.
While Kotoko fans bewailed the outcome, it was all joy for Gold Stars fans in Bibiani and all over the country as they added a fourth goal to end the Lions’ demolition 4-0.
Nations FC lost the final day fight as they suffered a 0-2 defeat at home to Heart of Lions at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
S. Asante and S. Quansah scored the goals in the 10th and 17th minutes to break the home invincibility of the title contenders.
Despite the loss, they secured the second position on the table.
Below the table, Nsoatreman FC, Legon Cities and Accra Lions bade farewell to elite football with final day losses.
