BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Aduana FC announced their title credentials in emphatic fashion on Friday afternoon, ending Heart of Lions’ formidable home run in Kpando with a hard-fought 1–0 victory that sent the Dormaa-based side to the top of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League table.
The decisive moment came shortly after the break when Patrick Mensah found the back of the net in the 56th minute, capitalising on a disciplined and tactically astute Aduana display.
The goal proved enough to separate the two sides in what had been billed as a top-three showdown, with Aduana starting the day second and Heart of Lions sitting just behind them in third.
Before kickoff, Kpando had been a fortress. Heart of Lions were unbeaten at home this season, recording five wins and a draw, and many expected them to extend that run given their energetic first-half performance.
The hosts controlled large spells of the opening 45 minutes, pressing high and forcing Aduana into a compact, defensive shape.
Lions came closest to breaking the deadlock through striker Michael Ephson, whose intelligent movement into the box created space for a left-footed strike that narrowly missed the target, rippling the side netting instead.
Despite their dominance in possession, however, clear-cut chances were limited, with Aduana’s back line holding firm.
The complexion of the match shifted after the interval. Aduana emerged with renewed intent, gradually growing into the contest and unsettling the previously confident hosts.
Their persistence paid off in the 56th minute when Patrick Mensah struck, silencing the home crowd and handing the visitors a priceless lead.
From that point, the Ogya Boys managed the game with maturity, absorbing pressure and exploiting spaces on the counterattack.
They nearly doubled their advantage late on when Hensen Amponsa broke free, only for Heart of Lions goalkeeper Odartey Lamptey to produce a fine save to keep his side in contention.
Despite a late push from the hosts, Aduana remained resolute, seeing out the match to claim all three points.
The victory lifts Aduana to the summit of the league standings with 27 points, underlining their consistency and growing momentum as the season progresses.
For Heart of Lions, the defeat is a rare setback at home and leaves them on 23 points in third place, a position that could shift as the remaining round of fixtures are played over the weekend.
Attention now turns to their next assignment away to Samartex, where they will look to quickly rediscover their form.
Aduana, meanwhile, return to Dormaa with confidence boosted ahead of a high-profile home fixture against Hearts of Oak, a match that could further shape the early title race in the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League.
