Asante Kotoko vs Accra Hearts of OAk

Recap

A first 45 minutes of intense action characterized by missed opportunities from both sides in a game that was highly anticipated to draw the crowds to sit behind their TVs.

Asante Kotoko began the action with Imoro Ibrahim who picked a missed ball from his side of play before issuing out a long pass to Kwame Poke who was heckled down in the penalty box by Mohammed Alhassan, Referee Selorm Yao Bless who was close to the spot instantly whistled for a penalty to the protests of Hearts Defence, and with what was going to be one of the fastest goal of the super clash,  Young Striker Kwame Poku’s weak kick ended in the diving hands of Richard Attah in goal.

Hearts of Oak then seized the game from their rivals afterwards with Patrick Razak getting perhaps the best chance of the afternoon, but his close range curling shot to the left side of Keeper Razak Abalora hit the side of the post, to the shock ot himself and his side.

The Phobians, with a three man midfield of Frederick Ansah Botchway, MAnaf Umar, and Benjamin Afutu Kotei produced a masterclass game in the middle of the park, pushing their opponents deep into their own half, and unleashing goal bound passes to their winger of Patrick Razak and Victor AIdoo.

Hearts of Oak came closs to scoring again in the 6th minute when Patrick Razak dispossessed Yussif Mubarik off the ball right in front of the 18 yard with only Patrick Razak to beat, but the winger shot straight to the legs of the goalkeeper.

Hearts of Oak did not relent on their efforts to get the opener whiles controlling the midfield of the game.

Kwadwo Obeng Jr came close to scoring again in the 10th minute of play, this time around his shot missed the goal by inches after Patrick Razak had done all the work in dribbling past the Kotoko Defenders.

The game then settled after the 15th minute with both sides playing a more relaxed game in attempt to break the back of each other.

Asante Kotoko came into the game briefly before the 40th minute but a Fabio Gama through pass to Naby  Keita went off wide after the Guinean attacker  seemed to have missed his shot.

The game produced all drama expected to be seem as Hearts of Oak returned to the second half of the game with a penalty awarded them, but the ‘supersub’ of the side Isaac Mensah also missed, shooting straight to the waiting hands of Razak Abalora.

Both Coaches effected some changes to their sides, with Kotoko bringing on Mudasiru Salifu, Kwame Adom Frimpong, and Patrick Asmah to tighten his midfield, while Coach Nii Noi Samuel brought on Isaac Mensah, and Michell Sarpong to add up to his attack.

but all the drama of the game were without goals as they kept missing clear goal scoring opportunities, but Asante Kotoko will be the team cursing their stars as they came close to score in the last minute of the game, but Fabio Gama’s over elaboration on the ball left him stranded in the penalty box with a cluster of legs picking the ball from him.

Heart of Oak goalkeeper Richard Atta kept his side in the game with two super saves with Mudasiru, Kwame Poku running clear on goal.

with 90 pus 3 minutes of play, Referee Selorm Yao Bless had enough of the misses, and brought proceedings to an end.