Toman Mariners F.C faced CAL United F.C at the Tema Sports Stadium on 19 January 2025, in a gripping league encounter that ended with a scoreline of 1-2 in favour of the visitors. The match, which kicked off at 3:00pm, showcased a blend of tactical prowess and individual brilliance, ultimately leaving the Mariners with a bitter taste of defeat.
The Mariners adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Emmanuel Amponsah stood guard in goal, with a back four comprising Eric Asiamah and Mawudeka Quarshie as the right and left defenders respectively, supported by central defenders Nana Sunkwa and Caleb Asamani. In midfield, Darlington Doe and Gabby Mensah operated as central midfielders, tasked with both breaking up opposition play and initiating attacks. Ahead of them, Agudey Addison and Harry Nkansah occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles, while Harrison Danquah played centrally as the attacking midfielder, with Akpah Amstrong leading the line as the striker.
The substitutes for Toman Mariners included Malik Asare, James Ankrah, and Kelvin Sowah, who would later play pivotal roles in the match.
The first half saw CAL United take control, with their first goal arriving in the 36th minute. A stunning long-range strike from outside the box found the back of the net, leaving Amponsah with little chance to react. Just six minutes later, CAL United doubled their lead with a close-range tap-in, further compounding the Mariners' woes as they headed into half-time trailing 0-2.
Upon the resumption of play, Toman Mariners made tactical adjustments, introducing Malik Asare for Mawudeka Quarshie in the 52nd minute, followed swiftly by James Ankrah replacing Gabby Mensah in the 53rd minute. These changes aimed to inject fresh energy into the Mariners' midfield and attack.
As the match progressed, CAL United's discipline began to wane, resulting in a yellow card for persistent infringements in the 78th minute. The tension escalated further when another yellow card was issued for serious foul play in the 89th minute, demonstrating the visitors' struggle to maintain composure under pressure.
In a last-ditch effort to salvage the match, Toman Mariners made their final substitution, bringing on Kelvin Sowah for Darlington Doe in the 90th minute. The introduction of Sowah proved crucial, as he played a key role in the Mariners' late resurgence.
In stoppage time, Toman Mariners finally found the breakthrough they had been searching for. Harrison Danquah converted a penalty in the 92nd minute, with the assist coming from Sowah, igniting hopes of a dramatic comeback. However, despite their valiant efforts, the Mariners could not find an equaliser, and the match concluded with a 1-2 defeat.
The Mariners will undoubtedly reflect on this match as a missed opportunity, but the late goal from Danquah may provide a glimmer of hope as they look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
