Karela United’s flawless home run stopped on Sunday after being held to a 1–1 draw by Berekum Chelsea at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale.
The hosts began the match with confidence and wasted no time asserting control. Their early dominance was rewarded in the 9th minute, when Bless Ege was brought down inside the penalty area. The forward picked himself up to calmly convert from the spot, giving the Green and Reds a deserved lead.
Karela maintained their pressure in search of a second goal, but their recurring defensive lapses proved costly once again. In the 36th minute, a poorly cleared set piece allowed Chelsea to pounce, through Kwesi Badori, leveling the scoreline against the run of play. The goal stunned the home fans and shifted the game’s momentum heading into halftime.
After the break, Karela United pushed hard to reclaim the lead. They dominated possession with 55% of the ball, created several promising openings, and forced seven corner kicks, but their finishing lacked precision. Midfielder Zaidan Mohammed came closest to restoring their advantage in the 62nd minute, but the Chelsea goalkeeper, Eric Ofori-Antwi palmed away his fierce free-kick effort.
Despite Chelsea seeing less of the ball, they proved sharper in transition, managing six total shots with three on target, compared to Karela’s four attempts. Their compact defensive structure and quick counterattacks frustrated the home side, ensuring they left Tamale with a valuable away point.
For Karela United, the draw marks the first time this season they have dropped points at home — a result that dents their hopes of climbing further up the league standings. Coach Nurudeen Amadu will, however, take encouragement from his side’s attacking intent and overall control of the game.
Berekum Chelsea, guided by Samuel Boadu, will view the result as a positive outcome, stretching their unbeaten run to two matches and maintaining the steady improvement seen in recent weeks. They will next host Accra Hearts of Oak on Sunday.
Photo credit: Ghanasoccernet
