Aduana and Karela United end Kotoko and Hearts of Oak unbeaten starts

Pinned summary · as of 05:29

Two early unbeaten records in the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League fell over the Matchday Four weekend. Aduana FC won 2-0 away to Asante Kotoko in Kumasi despite being a man short for most of the match, and Hearts of Oak went down 1-0 to Karela United in Tamale. FC Samartex, who drew away at Swedru All Blacks, stayed unbeaten at the top.

What we know

• Aduana FC won 2-0 at Kotoko's ground in Kumasi while playing for more than 50 minutes with a player fewer, and the result gave Asante Kotoko their first defeat of the campaign.
• Stephen Amankona scored Aduana's opening goal, and Seidu Saana added the second late on. Raymond Agyemang had been sent off shortly before half-time, according to MyNewsGH and the Ghanaian Times.
• Karela United won 1-0 in Tamale over Hearts of Oak, whose unbeaten start ended when Mohammed Zaidan struck in the 88th minute.
• Defending champions Medeama SC came from a goal down to defeat Basake Holy Stars 4-1 in the derby between two Western Region sides, taking their first league victory this season and the widest margin of the round.
• Basake took the lead through Patrick Ocran, after which Medeama replied with four goals before the interval, scored by Owusu (Prince), Annor (Emmanuel), Nkrumah (Kelvin) and Braye (Kingsley).
• Newly promoted Port City won 2-0 away at Bibiani GoldStars at Dun's Park. The first goal came from Emmanuel Intori inside eight minutes.
• FC AshantiGold got past Debibi United by two goals to one at the Len Clay Stadium, while an early header from Derrick Atta Afriyie gave Bechem United a narrow win over Dreams FC. Heart of Lions also came from behind to see off Young Apostles 2-1.
• Two matches finished level at 1-1: Berekum Chelsea against Vision FC, and Swedru All Blacks against FC Samartex.
• FC Samartex sit at the top of the table and have not lost this season.
• The nine matches produced 21 goals, made up of four victories for the hosts, three for the visitors and two draws.
• Nine players received the NASCO Man of the Match award for the round, each winning a 32-inch television from sponsor Electroland Ghana Limited. Aduana's Samuel Osei Kuffuor, Karela's Zaidan Mohammed and Medeama's Etse Dogli were among them.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Reports differ on where Medeama's win over Basake was played: Graphic Online, MyJoyOnline and Onua Online name the Tarkwa and Aboso Stadium, while Pulse Ghana gives the TNA Stadium.
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  Reports differ on the Heart of Lions winner against Young Apostles. MyNewsGH, Graphic Online and MyJoyOnline place Mustapha Yakubu's goal in the 95th minute, while Ghana Sports News says the 90th. The venue is given as the Nana Abrefa Nketia VII Stadium by MyNewsGH and as the Wenchi Sports Stadium by Graphic Online and MyJoyOnline.
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  MyNewsGH reported that Port City moved into third place and that Bibiani GoldStars slipped into the bottom three. Ghana Sports News instead put Port City, Hearts of Oak, Aduana, AshantiGold and Bechem United level on seven points behind Samartex on eight. Neither version has been backed by other reports.
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  Ghana Sports News reported that Medeama and Dreams FC have played one game fewer than the rest because their opening fixture was postponed around Medeama's CAF Champions League commitments. This has not been confirmed by other reports.
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  Pulse Ghana, citing the Ghana Premier League, said Bechem United goalkeeper Benjamin Asiedu has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper this season. No other report carries the claim.
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  MyNewsGH, citing the Ghana Football Association, reported that two Matchday 5 games are due to be broadcast by TV3 and Onua TV, with a stream on Adesa+. They are Asante Kotoko against Karela United on Thursday, 1 October, and Dreams FC against Hearts of Oak on Sunday, 4 October, both at 3:00pm. The schedule has not been reported elsewhere.

Why it matters for Ghana

Supporters of Kotoko in Kumasi and Hearts of Oak in Accra now see their clubs' unbeaten starts gone, while Aduana and Karela United followers have a first big result to celebrate. Medeama's first win and the goals across the country show a competitive league from Tarkwa to Tamale. The next round's live television games give fans who cannot travel a chance to watch, if the broadcast plans are confirmed.