In a closely contested friendly match held at Buru Buru One Primary on 25 May 2025, Phoenix FC drew with Black Stars FC 1-1 as the scoreline. The match kicked off at 10:00 am, and despite the low attendance of just around 30 spectators, the atmosphere was charged with excitement as both teams battled for supremacy.
Phoenix FC lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allowed for a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their attacking players. Mike took his position in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Micheal on the right, James Nyaroo and Shaquil in central defence, and Maloba on the left. The midfield was anchored by Sam and Ibraah, who were tasked with both defensive duties and transitioning play forward. In the attacking trio, Evanso operated on the right, Shaddy Shaddy on the left, and Migel played centrally behind the lone striker, Dan, who was expected to lead the line and convert chances into goals.
The substitutes for Phoenix FC included Kepher , Senior and young debutant Chege , just 14 years old who would later play pivotal roles in the match.
The first half saw both teams probing for weaknesses, but it was Phoenix FC who looked more threatening. Mike showcased his goalkeeping prowess early on, making a confident catch in the 14th minute to deny any early attempts from Black Stars FC. As the match progressed, James Nyaroo made a crucial header to prevent a chance in the 19th minute, followed closely by Micheal's impressive block just a minute later, demonstrating Phoenix's solid defensive capabilities.
Shaquil further solidified the defence with a vital clearance in the 24th minute, ensuring that Black Stars FC struggled to find their rhythm. Phoenix FC's attacking intent was evident when Ibraah struck the crossbar with a powerful attempt in the 29th minute, leaving the crowd gasping in anticipation of the opening goal. As the half drew to a close, Ibraah made a significant contribution with a lovely through pass that created a chance in the 37th minute, showcasing his playmaking abilities.
The teams went into the break at 0-0, but the second half promised more action.Black Stars found the back of the net with a penalty from a careless handball from Dan giving Black Stars a 1 goal lead right in the second half.
However, it was Daniel Dan who found himself in the referee's book shortly after, receiving a yellow card for a deliberate handball.
Tactical changes were made as Kepher replaced Ibraah in the 55th minute, followed by Charlow coming on for Micheal in the 60th minute.
The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute when Kepher, who had just entered the fray, scored the equalising goal with a well-placed shot using his right foot. This goal sent the home fans into raptures and put Phoenix FC level with the visitors
As the match continued, Phoenix FC made further substitutions, with Senior coming on for Evanso in the 70th minute and Chege replacing Shaddy in the 87th minute. In the dying moments of the match, Kepher had a chance to score the leading goal , but his effort was saved, keeping the scoreline at 1-1.
The match concluded with both teams sharing a point .The performance of Kepher , who not only scored the equalising goal but also contributed significantly throughout the match, earned him a standout mention alongside Senior, Migel, Shaquil and Jemo as players of the match.
