By Sylvester Owusu-Asare
A ten-man AshantiGold side shared the spoils with Ebusua Dwarfs in the GHALCA Group B opener on Sunday by drawing 1-1 at the Essipong Sport Stadium.
Both sides needed spot-kicks to find the back of the net in a nondescript match on match day II of the competition.
AshGold which presented a formidable side needed a penalty call in the 35th minute to opening the scoring against a stubborn Dwarfs side.
Yusif Aziz and Didier Kore could have put the Miners ahead in the 21st and the 28th minutes respectively but both efforts were cleared off the line by the defenders of Dwarfs.
Dwarfs proved solid at the back but AshGold who coached on the afternoon by assistant Kamara Dini succeeded in unlocking their rearguard.
Dwarfs centre-back Richard Ocran in an efforts to clear his lines resulted in pulling down Yusif Aziz in the penalty box
This time Didier Kore converted it neatly to end the first half 1-0 in the 38th minute.
AshGold dominate the game throughout the first half and should have gone into the break with more than one goal.
Dwarfs received a late invitation to play in the Glo G8 tournament came in for the second period with much more purpose but were not clinical upfront.
AshantiGold were later reduced to ten men after Aziz Ibrahim was red carded in the 50th minute for reckless tackle.
Dwarfs captain Biskmark Asiedu wasted several scoring chances including a one-on-one with goalkeeper Iddrisu Ibrahim on the 70th minute mark.
But after series of beautiful play by the two sides, AshGold's Issahaku Zakari handled a ball in the 18yard box resulting in a penalty of which substitute Seidu Bansy neatly converted in the 77th minute for the much deserved equalizer.
Dwarfs starting line-up:
Ekow Ampia-Patrick Cole, JE Awuah Mensah, Stephen Aidoo, Richard Ocran-Peter Tabila, Akwesi Antwi, Richard Nyamful, Bismark Asiedu-Mustapha Otoo, John Arthur.
Subs: Yakubu Salou, Siba Adams, Raphael Essien, Siedu Bansy, Nicholas Djan, Folie Adade.
AshantiGold starting line-up:
Ibrahim Iddrisu-Daniel Asamoah, Henri Traore, Aziz Ibrahim, Isshaku Zakari, Kwadjo Boateng, Jafaru Musah, Yusifu Aziz, Didier Kore, Yakubu Mohammed.
Subs: Michael Boakye, Euguene Prempeh, Mohammed Aminu, Clement Coffie, Albert Darko, Sadat Anwar, Mohammed Tofick, Emmanuel Bukason.