Full match report: Hearts edge out Kotoko in ‘G8’ tournament

Kumasi, Jan. 17, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak S/C beat archrivals, Asante Kotoko S/C, 4-2 on penalties to advance to the grand finale of the GHALCA ‘G8’ tournament at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, on Wednesday.

The match in itself ended 0-0 in regulation time and the Phobians went ahead to overcome the Porcupine Warriors with Chris Bonney, Francis Morton, Patrick Razak and Malik Akowuah getting on the scoring sheet for the former, while Baba Mahama and Awudu Nafiu scored for Kotoko.

As expected and very characteristic of clashes between the two sides, the match started with determination written all over the faces of the competing players, but it was Hearts who enjoyed the better part of the early exchanges.

The Phobians, drawing inspiration from their vociferous and die-hard supporters were the first to launch an onslaught for an early goal and Robert Addo, as well as Morton wasted some decent chances that came their way in the fifth minute and seventh minutes respectively.

Kotoko unable to soak the incessant pressure resorted to a more aggressive approach to the game.

This nearly cost them in the 18th minute as Agustine Sefah committed a serious defensive blunder, allowing Hearts’ Cosmos Dauda to be gifted with a loose ball, however, he shot wide across the face of the goalpost.

The Porcupine Warriors came back strongly into the game in the last quarter of the first half and made occasional counter-attacks to surprise their opponents.

In the process, Kwame Boahen and speedster Emmanuel Gyamfi, came up with two well-rehearsed defense-splitting moves and on the two occasions, goalie Ben Mensah proved equal to the task as he prevented Kotoko from scoring.

After the recess, both teams threaded cautiously and the game became more concentrated in the midfield where the likes of Samudeen Ibrahim and Daniel Kodie, featuring for the Phobians, squared off fiercely against Jackson Owusu and Jordan Opoku.

The match ended barren with the two combatants each determined not to allow the ball to enter the net. 

GNA

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