Hearts pip Kotoko in cliff-hanger by 1-0 @ de BABAYARA STADIUM in kumasi

Hearts of Oak clinched a
priceless 1-0 victory over arch-
rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko at
the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in
a game that produced everything
football has to offer, except a
red card.
Twice referee Cecil Fletcher had
it right when he disallowed Obed
Ansah ’s goals in the first half and
twice had it wrong when he
disallowed legitimate penalty
appeals from the Phobians in the
second half.
Suffice to say, the match ought
not to have ended 1-0, but it
did, thanks to Obed Ansah, the
player who inspired and
frustrated the Phobians with
equal measure.
It was the Porcupine Warriors
who went on the rampage early
in the first half with sweet little
runs from Louis Agyemang and
Alex Asamoah, one of which
forced a Hollywood save from
goal keeper Sammy Adjei in the
11th minute.
Agyemang flicked a header on
the path of Asamoah whose
terrific goal bound volley met an
equally terrific finger tip save by
Adjei.
Adjei again pulled a superb save
from a Nii Adjei bullet, minutes
later.
Hearts then took the game to
the host, with Obed Ansah
taking control of the midfield
with his teasing runs and tales of
near misses and disallowed
goals.
His first was a bicycle kick from
the six yard box which beat Isaac
Amoako in post for Kotoko but
which was ruled offside.
His second was on the stroke of
half when his ‘hand of God’ goal
was disallowed and a yellow card
given. Before that though, Obed
squandered great goal scoring
opportunities which were difficult
to miss than to score.
His first rebound from near post
whisked inches wide after a well
taken shot by Uriah Asante from
the right took a ricochet off the
post.
His second, a misdirected
header, rolled awfully wide with
only Isaac Amoako at his mercy.
Determination
The second half was sublime;
Hearts took charge, with Kotoko
doing the chasing for most part.
The Phobians had a clear penalty
appeal disallowed when the ball
went off the arm of a Kotoko
player in the vital area- sparking
pockets of water pelting from
followers of the Phobians to
register their protest.
Again, a late challenge on Obed
Ansah in the vital area appeared
a legitimate penalty but Cecil
Fletcher had other ideas.
The Phobians looked more
determined and that
determination paid off in 64th
minute when a teasing cross
from Douglass Nkrumah again
went of the arm of Aziz Ansah,
culminating in the penalty kick.
Nkrumah, who himself is a
former player of Kotoko stepped
up, his nerves well checked and
slotted the ball past Amoako for
the only goal and the third
straight defeat suffered by the
Porcupine Warriors at their own
back yard.
Edward Affum who came in early
for Alex Asamoah struggled to
perform largely due to a rugged
Philip Buampong.
Hearts cruised to two successive
victories in the Glo league whilst
Kotoko plunged to two
successive defeats in 9th week
long Glo Premier League.