Hearts of Oak clinched a vital 1-0 victory over Asante Kotoko, halting the Porcupine Warriors’ unbeaten run in Kumasi this season.
This win came with added drama as the Phobians played with 10 men for the majority of the second half after right-back Emmanuel Amankwah was sent off.
The match saw a spectacular header from Baba Adamu in the 14th minute, which proved to be the only goal of the game. Adamu’s well-timed, looping header caught Kotoko goalkeeper Mohammed Camara off guard, as his poor anticipation allowed the ball to nestle into the net.
Despite a man down, Hearts of Oak remained resolute in defence, maintaining a compact shape and limiting Kotoko’s chances. The Porcupine Warriors struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with Raphael Amponsah missing a crucial one-on-one chance that could have sealed the game for Hearts.
The match’s turning point came when Kotoko’s keeper Mohammed Camara failed to read Adamu’s header, letting it slip past him. Hearts were then forced into a defensive approach when Emmanuel Amankwah was given a second yellow card, reducing them to 10 men. This did not deter Hearts’ strong defensive line, which was superbly marshalled by goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who earned the Man of the Match accolade.
With the victory, Hearts of Oak moved up to second place, just five points behind league leaders Medeama, keeping their title hopes alive. Kotoko, however, remain outside the top four and will be looking to bounce back in their next fixture against Young Apostles.
Source: metrotvonline.com
