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.
DeterminationTwice 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.
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.
Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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