Vista have been plagued by injuries to key players and the loss of one of our main center back partners last season really has taken a toll. Having not had a consistent team for our opening 4 games we were hoping to be able to win under difficult circumstances and rebuild next week but that was always going to be a tough task given the team we faced.
Kumasi attacked instantly with threat and intent and Vista struggled to cope with the ferocity. There was Attack after attack, which ended with Kumasi either in behind our defense or in front, but pulling our team into really difficult positions. I’m totally bewildered how they weren’t able to finish at least 3 of their opportunities but Vista managed to hold on somehow. Although Kumasi weren’t able to finish their easy chances it was possibly their hardest chance, which resulted in a goal. While receiving the ball on the edge of the box their midfielder Nicky meta flicked the ball up and volleyed the ball low and hard beyond the keepers reach.
In all honesty Vista should and could have been 4-0 down but eventually we found our way into the game. Aaron Dalhouse was substituted for Andrew Thompson due to illness and then we began to find some rhythm. A diagonal ball from Andrew Dalhouse to Victor Okisor found him in a similar position he had been a few times but with great precision Victor came inside and rocketed a shot past the keeper and in off the crossbar. This may or may not have been deserved but given the score Vista had done exceptionally well. What was even more of a shock is that Vista had began to gain momentum and chances started to arise and when some great passing play between Jordan Taylor and Siao Blackwood reached Andrew Dalhouse he played a weighted pass in behind to Omari Hibbert who finished slickly with a low and hard drive. At half time Kumasi must have been confused but they battled back nonetheless.
There had been slight changes in the midfield between Ohran Stewart and Andrew Dalhouse, which allowed us to press higher, and Vista started off quite well but Kumasi continued to use the threat of their right-winger whose frightening pace created a problem all game. For 25 minutes both teams threatened to score but once again it was the last 10 minutes where concentration should be at it’s highest where we fell short. A simple run and cross fell to Kumasi’s Prince Ogbanufe at the back post who finished into an empty net.
Maybe criminal for Vista FC but we never play to draw or with a defensive mindset and with both teams pressing for a goal it was always due to end horribly for someone but unfortunately this time we were on the losing end.
With what should have been a harmless throw on the ball ended up on the edge of the box with a Kumasi legend in Gerald Akosa who once again volleyed low and hard and beyond Steve Hanley’s full reach. Steve did get a hand to it but it still ended up in the back of the net.
Kumasi showed great fight and character to overturn the deficit having probably should have been ahead already so full credit must be given to them. We look forward to the replay.
Goals
Victor Okisor
Omari Delgado
Assist
Andrew Dalhouse x 2
M.O.M
Victor Okisor