Heart of Lions returned to winning ways in the Ghana Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bechem United, as William Oduro struck a dramatic late winner at the Kpando Sports Stadium.
The Kpando-based side headed into the encounter under immense pressure after suffering three consecutive defeats and the recent departure of head coach Kasim Gokyldez. However, the hosts showed resilience to put their off-field troubles behind them and claim a much-needed three points.
Heart of Lions made a nervous start, with Bechem United looking the more threatening side in the opening exchanges. Defender Abdul Jalilu was called into action early, producing a crucial clearance to prevent the visitors from taking the lead.
Despite their shaky start, the hosts broke the deadlock midway through the first half through the in-form Stephen Afoakwa. The attacker unleashed a fine finish to put Lions ahead, scoring for the second consecutive league match and continuing his impressive goalscoring form.
The lead, however, failed to settle the home side. Bechem United gradually grew into the contest and piled pressure on the Lions defence. Their persistence paid off just before the interval when experienced forward Augustine Okrah found the back of the net to restore parity, ensuring the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Heart of Lions came out with renewed purpose after the restart and nearly regained the advantage when William Odurocrashed a powerful effort against the woodwork.
As the game wore on, both managers made attacking substitutions in pursuit of all three points. The hosts continued to press forward and their determination was rewarded in the closing stages.
With just four minutes remaining, Oduro emerged as the hero, finishing off a well-worked move to score the decisive goal and send the home supporters into celebration.
The victory ends Heart of Lions’ three-match losing streak and provides a timely boost after a turbulent week for the club. For Bechem United, the defeat was a frustrating setback despite a spirited performance that saw them battle back through the experienced Okrah before ultimately falling short in Kpando.
