On this day 14 May 2006 (Exactly 13 years ago) Supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club poured unto the streets of Sunyani after the referee signalled for the end of their titanic GT One Touch Top Four final match against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Coronation Park.
The match ended one all but Hearts needed only a draw to lift the GT One Touch Top Four Cup for the second time.
Kotoko took the lead in the 62nd minute of the tension-packed match through George Yamoah but Hearts staged a late rally and cancelled the deficit in the 76th minute through Kwabena Boafo.
The heightened tension around the match saw hundreds of police and military personnel at vantage points around the Sunyani Coronation Park to ensure no acts of indiscipline or violent behaviour happened.
On this day 14 May 2017 (Exactly 2 years ago) Ghana’s Under-17 men’s soccer team, the Black Starlets, opened the 2017 African U-17 Cup of Nations with a 4-0 win over Cameroon.
The match was the second of the tournament, which was held in Gabon.
The Starlets were a mouthful for their opponents as captain Eric Ayiah and Ibrahim Sulley tormented the defence of the Cameroonians.
It may have been revenge for the Ghanaians, whose senior side was bundled out of winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, at the semi-final stage, by eventual champions Indomitable Lions.
Goals Scored
Eric Ayiah (25,64)
Ibrahim Sulley (32,34)
On this day 14 May 1994 (Exactly 25 years ago) Manchester United defeated Chelsea 4-0 at Wembley Stadium, London to win their 8th FA Cup title.
United went into the final as Premier League champions, having won the title by eight points over Blackburn Rovers. They were bidding to become only the fourth team of the 20th century to complete “the Double” and the first in their own history. Chelsea, on the other hand, were playing in their first FA Cup Final since 1970 and first major final since the 1972 Football League Cup Final; they had finished 14th in the Premier League.
Goals Scored
Eric Cantona (60 penalty, 66 penalty)
Mark Hughes 69
McClair 90+2
Manchester United: Schmeichel; Parker, Irwin (Sharpe, 84), Bruce, Pallister, Cantona, Ince, Giggs, Kanchelskis (McClair, 84), Keane, Hughes.
Chelsea: Kharin; Clarke, Johnsen, Kjeldbjerg, Sinclair, Burley (Hoddle, 68), Newton, Spencer, Peacock, Stein (Cascarino, 78), Wise.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow).
On this day 14 May 1995 (Exactly 24 years ago) At 43 years, 162 days Manchester City goalkeeper John Burridge became the oldest player to appear in an EPL match, a 3-2 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers
On this day 14 May 1980 (Exactly 39 years ago) Valencia of Spain won the 20th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Arsenal of England 5-4 on penalties at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels
The match ended goalless after extra – time and it was the first final to be decided on penalties.
Arsenal FC, were a typically English team with an Irish backbone of Pat Jennings in goal, Liam Brady in midfield and Frank Stapleton as target-man. A solid campaign led them as far as the semi-finals where, after conceding a 1-1 draw in London, they were expected to fall against Juventus FC, who settled for the 0-0 draw that would have been sufficient…until substitute Paul Vaessen hit the last-gasp goal which eliminated them and sent Arsenal to Brussels.
Valencia possessed formidable weaponry. Ricardo Arias ‘swept’ behind an uncompromising defence. Rainer Bonhof and Daniel Solsona blended steel and skill in midfield. And World Cup star Mario Kempes was well served by two pacy, skilful wingers. To their credit, Arsenal kept them at bay in a final which produced little to write home about. At 4-4 in the penalty shoot-out, Graham Rix failed from the spot and the trophy was on its way back to Spain.
Line-Ups
Valencia CF Arsenal FC
PEREIRA Carlos (G) JENNINGS Pat (G)
CARRETE José RICE Pat (C)
BOTUBOT Manuel TALBOT Brian
ARIAS Ricardo O’LEARY David
TENDILLO Miguel(C)NELSON Sammy
SOLSONA Daniel YOUNG Willie
SAURA Enrique BRADY Liam
BONHOF Rainer SUNDERLAND Alan
KEMPES Mario STAPLETON Frank
SUBIRATS Javier PRICE David
RODRIGUEZ Pablo RIX Graham
Head Coach
DI STEFANO Alfredo NEILL Terry
On this day 14 May 1997 (Exactly 22 years ago) FC Barcelona of Spain won 37th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Paris Saint-Germain of France 1-0 at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam.
Barcelona won the match thanks to a Ronaldo 38th minute penalty.
FC Barcelona :Baia, Ferrer, Abelardo, Popescu (Amor 46), Sergi, Guardiola, De La Peña (Stoitchkov 85), Fernando Couto, Luis Enrique (Pizzi 89), Figo, Ronaldo
Paris Saint-Germain: Lama, Fournier (Algerino 58), N’Gotty, Le Guen, Domi, Leroy, Guerin (Dely Valdes 69), Rai, Cauet, Loko (Pouget 78), Leonardo
Referee: Merk (Germany)
On this day 14 May 1995 ((Exactly 24 years ago) Blackburn Rovers break Manchester United’s monopoly on the Premier League by claiming the top- flight title for the first time in 81 years. On a dramatic final day, Rovers lost at Liverpool but triumph by a point after United could only draw at West Ham.
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH