Northern Region secured a dramatic 3-2 victory on penalties over Brong Ahafo Region after the two sides battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation time in a thrilling Group B encounter at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence on Friday.
Brong Ahafo Region made a flying start to the contest when Kwaku Frimpong Jnr found the back of the net in the sixth minute to put his side ahead.
Northern Region responded strongly and restored parity in the 23rd minute through Abdul Rahim Hassan Baba, setting up an intriguing contest.
Northern completed the turnaround nine minutes after the restart when Osman Ibrahim struck in the 54th minute to give his side a 2-1 advantage.
Brong Ahafo, however, refused to surrender and fought back to level the scores in the 74th minute, with Osafo Antwi providing the equaliser.
With neither side able to find a decisive goal before the end of regulation time, the match was settled through a penalty shootout.
Northern Region held their nerve to prevail 3-2 on penalties, securing the victory after a tense shootout.
Despite the defeat, Brong Ahafo’s Bright Ofosu earned individual recognition for his impressive performance and was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the match.
Central Region stun Greater Accra with late winner
In the final match of the day, Central Region produced a dramatic late winner to defeat Greater Accra Region 1-0, throwing the Group B standings wide open.
The match appeared destined to end goalless after both sides battled intensely without finding a breakthrough in normal time.
However, Kwame Amoako delivered the decisive moment in the 91st minute, scoring a crucial late goal to hand Central Region all three points at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence.
Central Region’s disciplined and determined performance was rewarded not only with victory but also with individual recognition for Desmond Korletey, who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player.
The results have added further intrigue to Group B, with the teams now facing an increasingly competitive battle for points as the championship progresses.
The MTN Elite U-19 Championship continues to provide an important platform for some of Ghana’s brightest young footballers to develop their technical and tactical abilities while gaining valuable competitive experience that can contribute significantly to their growth and future careers.
GFA Communications