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Kotoko beat Hearts to break 16-year jinx
Accra, June 14, Ghanadot/GNA – Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat Accra Hearts
of Oak by a lone goal on Sunday in their 22 Week Glo Premier
League encounter at the ohene Djan Stadium in Kumasi.
Francis Coffie headed home the match winner from a Harrison
Afful free-kick on 75th minute to aid Kotoko claim their
first League win over their archrivals in Accra dating back
to 1993.
For the vociferous Kotoko fans, the victory was a huge
relief after playing second fiddle to their bitterest rivals
for the past 16-years, and they celebrated the feat in grand
style.
The victory also served as a sweet revenge for the
‘Porcupine Warriors’ after they lost to the Phobians 1-2 in
their previous encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi,
which feat has also ended the unbeaten home run of the
current League leaders this season.
With their impressive run this term coupled with Kotoko’s
inconsistency, Hearts were the bookmakers’ favourites but
they failed in that bid.
With the stadium almost packed to capacity, the biggest
crowd recorded at the Ohene Djan Stadium this season, both
teams struggled in search of their rhythm in the opening
minutes.
Kotoko who are yet to loose a match under new coach, Herbert
Addo, had the first laugh at goal after three minutes but
striker Stephen Manu headed wide from a Coffie’s corner.
On 16 minutes, Manu again shot wide after Francis Akwaffo
had put him through.
That was all the Porcupine Warriors had in terms of breaking
the deadlock as the first half progressed with the Phobians
taking charge of the game from then on.
The midfield component of Esme Mends, Kofi Abanga, Obed
Ansah and Francis Bossman had the upper-hand for the
Phobians as they dictated the pace with their passing game,
yet the opener remained elusive for them.
Kotoko resumed the second half strongly and their trio of
Jordan Opoku, Daniel Nii Adjei and Akwaffo seized the
midfield completely with the Phobians chasing their shadows
and finding it difficult top cope with the pace of the
Porcupine Warriors.
The visitors from then resorted to long searching balls that
yielded dividends as they raided the defence of the Phobians
on several occasions through Coffie, who gave Hearts captain
Hassan Mohammed course to worry anytime he was on the break.
Hearts Coach Kostadin Papic brought on Hamza Abdulai for
Abanga on 64 minutes in his quest to reclaim the midfield
battle and two minutes on Hamza missed narrowly with only
Kotoko goalie Isaac Amoako to beat.
It was the closest goal scoring opportunity for the Phobians
in a half dictated by their archrivals.
Kotoko Coach Addo also brought on Alex Asamoah for Manu and
the substitute brought some urgency into the Kotoko attack
as he continued to pester the Hearts defence.
During one of such raids upfront, Hearts captain Hassan
fouled Coffie outside the penalty area and the striker
out-jumped his markers to head home strongly from the
resultant free-kick effected by Afful with Hearts goalie
Philemon McCarthy completely beaten.
Charged on by the opener, Kotoko maintained their tempo and
almost succeeded in authenticating the lead in added-on time
but Asamoah’s connection from a Kwabena Yaro’s cross from
the right missed by inches.
By the loss, Hearts’ lead at the top has been reduced to
seven points, whilst Kotoko move to the fifth position with
10 points adrift of Hearts.
GNA |
