Matchday 5 of the Ghana Premier League pits a wounded Hearts of Oak against a Dreams FC side still hunting its first win of the season.
Accra Hearts of Oak will be looking to put a first defeat behind them when they face Dreams FC at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Legon on Sunday in a Matchday 5 fixture of the Ghana Premier League (GPL), Ghana's top-flight football competition.
The Phobians, as Hearts are popularly known, had made a solid start to the campaign. They beat Berekum Chelsea and Bibiani Gold Stars, then drew goalless with Bechem United, collecting seven points from their first four matches. That run ended last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Karela United.
Dreams FC, nicknamed the "Still Believe" side, are in a tougher position. Four matches in, they are yet to win. Their points so far have come from their opening draws, and they also lost 1-0 last weekend, to Bechem United. Playing at home, they will see the visit of one of Ghana's biggest clubs as a chance to turn their season around, as reported by Ghanaian Times.
So the game sets up simply: Hearts need to show they can bounce back quickly, while Dreams need a first win to steady a difficult start.
Elsewhere on the matchday
Vision FC host Bibiani Gold Stars at the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex. Vision have been encouraging in the early weeks, while Gold Stars are smarting from a 2-0 home defeat to league newcomers Port City FC.
Defending champions Medeama SC travel to the Debibi Presby Park to face newly promoted Debibi United. Medeama took their time to get going but opened their account with a 4-1 win over Basake Holy Stars, and will want that result to be the start of a real title defence.
Port City FC continue their debut season at home to Bechem United at the Daasebere Boamah Darko II Park. Basake Holy Stars, trying to recover from their heavy loss to Medeama, welcome Berekum Chelsea to the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.
Aduana FC host Swedru All Blacks at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park after one of the more notable results of last Sunday. At the Kpando Stadium, Heart of Lions meet FC AshantiGold '04, with both sides arriving on the back of wins.
FC Samartex 1996, who are still unbeaten, host Young Apostles FC at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.
For fans following from abroad
For Ghanaians in the United States and elsewhere, the Hearts-Dreams fixture is the headline tie of the weekend, and it comes at a moment of wider attention on Ghanaian football. Ghanaian Times also reported on the same day that the Ghana Football Association and Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz had mutually terminated his contract.
