On this day 19 August 1973 (Exactly 46 years ago today) Zaire (now DR Congo) ended Ghana’s dream of first FIFA World Cup finals appearance after beating the West Africans 4-1 in the third round of the 1974 FIFA World Cup Qualifying second leg match played in Kinshasa; Zaire qualified 4-2 on aggregate.
Goals Scored
Zaire :Ntumba Kalala(1)
Kembo Uba Kembo (10)
Kakoko Etepe (65)
Mavuda Mafuila (89)
Ghana: Joseph Sam(51)
Zaire Line-up : Kazadi M’Wamba, Muepu Ilunga, Mwanza Nel Makombo, Buanga Tshimen, Laurent Ngoie, Mana Mambuene, Mbungu Ekofo, Ntumba Kalala Kembo Uba Kembo, Kidumu Mantantu , Kakoko Etepe(Mavuda Mafuila)
Coach :Blagoje Vidinic (Yugoslavia)
Ghana Line-up : Henry Lante France, Asumadu Enock, Sam Acquah, Akutteh Armah, Samuel Amarteifio, Joseph Ghartey, Osei Kofi, Eric Kofi, Kwasi Owusu, Isaac Eshun, Mohamed Ahmed’ Polo'(Joseph Sam)
Coach : Nocolae Dumitru (Romania)
Referee: Michael N’Difo (Cameroon)
Assistant Referees :Larcio Atangana (Cameroon)
Stanislas Kandem(Cameroon)
On this day 19 August 2009 (Exactly 10 years ago today) Dormaa-Ahenkro-based Aduana Stars qualified for the Premier League with a game to spur when they came from a goal down to beat Universal Stars 2-1 in an uncompromising Zone One Middle League match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Playing in red and black stripped jerseys, Universal were the first to open the scoring in the 25th minute with a great goal, courtesy Osman Sakora.
The player cleverly picked a pass from Kwame Toure in the opponents’ goal area and flicked the ball over the head of advancing goal keeper Musa Yahaya to send their supporters into wild jubilation.
Down by a goal, the two Brong-Ahafo teams from then concentrated their play in the midfield to end the first half in favour of Universal Stars. Aduana, from recess resorted to a beautiful game plan to perfection to level the scoring in the 72nd minute through skipper Samuel Asiedu in a swift counter attack.
The Universal goalkeeper had no answer to the thunderbolt of a shot delivered by the Skipper of Aduana Stars. The Dormaa lads who were gingered by the goal took total control in the mid-field and made countless forays into their opponents’ goal area, using the flanks.
This paid off for them as in one of their incursions up-front in the 78th minute they clinched the winner. Skipper Asiedu, who played as if he was possessed meandered his way through the mid-field to send a carpet pass to Yaw Frimpong who in turn located danger-man Richard Addai to connect home from an inswinger.
What Next?
Aduana Stars made history by becoming the first Club to win the Ghana Premier League title on their maiden season in the elite division.
Aduana clinched the 2009/2010 League title on the final day of the season with a lone goal victory over visiting Berekum Arsenal at the Dormaa Park whilst their closest contenders Obuasi Ashantigold lost by a lone goal against Bechem Chelsea (now Berekum Chelsea) at the Golden City Park in Berekum.
They won their second league title in 2017.
On this day 19 August 1995 (Exactly 24 years ago today) After being released from prison, Mike Tyson easily won his comeback bout against Peter McNeeley in 38 seconds at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada.
The bout billed as “He’s Back” marked the return of Mike Tyson to professional boxing after over four years away due to his 1991 arrest and subsequent conviction for rape in 1992 which led to Tyson serving three years in prison.
Background
Tyson had twice defeated the number two ranked heavyweight, Donovan “Razor” Ruddock, in 1991. Shortly after his second victory over Ruddock, a blockbuster deal was made that would see Tyson face the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield on November 8, 1991.
Before this match could take place, however, Tyson was arrested for the rape of 18-year-old Desiree Washington. He was subsequently convicted on February 10, 1992, and then sentenced to six years in prison on March 26.
After serving three years, Tyson was paroled on March 25, 1995, and on March 2, he would hold a short press conference that would announce his return to boxing as well as that Don King would remain his promoter.
After much debate over who would be Tyson’s first opponent in his comeback, including talks about a potential superfight with George Foreman, it was announced that Tyson would face little-known Peter McNeeley on August 19, 1995.
The Fight
The fight lasted only 89 seconds with Tyson earning an easy victory via disqualification. McNeeley started the fight by aggressively attacking Tyson as soon as the opening bell rang. Tyson was able to avoid McNeeley’s wild punches and land a right hook that dropped McNeeley to the canvas less than 10 seconds into the fight.
After taking referee Mills Lane’s standing eight count, McNeeley was allowed to continue and again would continue his aggressive assault on Tyson. The two men would exchange punches in the corner as the first minute of the round passed. Less than 20 seconds later, Tyson would land a right uppercut that again sent McNeeley down.
With McNeeley clearly hurt from the exchange, his manager Vinnie Vecchione entered the ring to prevent McNeeley from taking any more damage, causing Lane to end the fight and award Tyson the victory by disqualification.
Aftermath
Highly anticipated, the fight was an overwhelming financial success, grossing $96 million worldwide, including a then-record $63 million in Pay-per-view buys with the fight being purchased by 1.52 million American homes. Tyson later eclipsed this figure with three fights; two in 1996, his rematch with Frank Bruno and a match with Evander Holyfield and then the subsequent 1997 rematch between Tyson and Holyfield.
On this day 19 August 2018 (Exactly a year ago today) Novak Djokovic became the first player in the 28-year history of ATP World Tour Masters 1000s to win all nine elite tournaments and complete the career Golden Masters by winning his first title, in his sixth final, at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
They are some of the sport’s hardest events to win, forcing players to test their skills in varying weather conditions against the very best in the ATP Rankings right from the first round, from the heat and humidity of the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open presented by Itau in March through to the controlled indoor conditions of the Rolex Paris Masters in November. “A complete arsenal and the absence of a weakness is integral to completing the [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000 sweep,” said Justin Gimelstob.
In the 258 tournaments since the elite level of ATP World Tour tournaments were created for the start of the 1990 season, no player had managed to win at all nine Masters 1000 tournaments to complete a career Golden Masters. Until now.
Since Djokovic broke Rafael Nadal’s 46-match winning streak at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, for his first trophy in Monaco in April 2013, the Serbian star had three times headed to Mason, Ohio for the Western & Southern Open, on the cusp of sporting history. “It’s always been at the back of my mind, adding extra pressure, but also motivation, as it’s what you work for,” admitted Djokovic.
On this day 19 August 2016 Exactly 3 years ago today) Germany won women’s Olympic football gold for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the final in Rio.
Dzsenifer Marozsan put Germany ahead at the Maracana with a curling finish, and Sweden’s Linda Sembrant gifted them a second by scoring an own goal after Marozsan’s free-kick hit a post.
Stina Blackstenius pulled a goal back from Kosovare Asslani’s low cross.
The women’s football event has been held at only six Olympics, and this was Germany’s fourth medal after they won bronze in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Sweden reached the final after penalty shootout victories over the United States and Brazil in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
Described as a “bunch of cowards” by USA goalkeeper Hope Solo, Sweden’s silver was their first Olympic women’s football medal.
On this day 19 August 2001(Exactly 18 years ago today) German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher won the Hungarian Grand prix at the Hungaroring to clinch his 4th F1 World Drivers Championship and equal Alain Prost’s record of 51 Grand Prix victories.
On this day 19 August 2004 (Exactly 15 years ago today) American swimmer Michael Phelps wrapped up the 200/400m individual medley double at the Athens Olympics when he won the 200m (1:57.14 OR) ahead of team mate Ryan Lochte.
On this day 19 August 2004 (Exactly 15 years ago today) American swimmer Aaron Peirsol won the men’s 200m backstroke in Olympic record 1:54.95, giving him the 100/200m backstroke double at the Athens Olympics.
On this day 19 August 2008 (Exactly 11 years ago today) Former world champion, Christine Ohuruogu won the women’s 400m at the Beijing Olympics; GB’s 50th gold medal in Olympic track & field competition.
On this day 19 August 2016 (Exactly 3 years ago today) Tajikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov threw 78.68m to win the men’s hammer throw gold medal the Rio de Janeiro Olympics; first gold medal for Tajikistan in Olympic history.
On this day 19 August 2016 (Exactly 3 years ago today) Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya won the women’s 5,000m at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics; run Olympic record time of 14:26.17
On this day 19 August 2016 (Exactly 3 years ago today) Great Britain upset the heavily favoured Netherlands to win the women’s field hockey gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after drawing 3-3 in regulation time; win dramatic penalty shootout, 2-0
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH
