Two early minute strikes by Ahmed Toure and
Daniel Nii Adjei on Sunday afternoon gave Kumasi Asante Kotoko
an emphatic 2-0 win over their sworn rivals Accra Hearts of Oak
in their week 22 titanic clash in the Glo Premier League, played
at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium.
In a year that Hearts of Oak turns 100
years, Kotoko could not have dented their centenary celebration
any better than they did in that action-packed and thrilling
game.
The atmosphere at the Ohene Djan Sports
Stadium hours before the big game was colourful and charged as
supporters of the two glamorous clubs sang and danced in
anticipation of an exciting match.
To all intents and purposes, Kotoko fans
especially had their money’s worth and their time well spent
because the Porcupines lived up much to their expectation.
The pre-match drama, where two technical
members of Hearts of Oak fiercely engaged an equipment officer
of Kotoko, Issah Amadu, in a struggle over balls the Kotoko
personnel had in a net bag awaiting his players to come on to
the pitch for the warm-up.
Somewhat, the fracas raised the tension and
anxiety at the stadium but it became pure fun and amusement when
the two teams finally came out.
Whereas Kotoko players marched on to the
pitch in their beautiful white strip and holding their hands
together signifying unity, Hearts players donning their rainbow
colours strangely came onto the field under one of the team’s
big flags and with their heads and faces covered in front of
television cameras.
They walked onto the centre of the pitch to
perform rituals. An event that drew laughter from the thousands
of Kotoko supporters who had out-numbered the fans of the home
team at the stadium.
Hearts fans on the other hand and not
surprisingly, applauded their team’s queer march on to the
field.
When Referee Solomon Mordey who almost marred
the game with some bad decisions signaled the two sides into
action, Hearts of Oak were first to win an infringement.
Their fans roared for the opener yet it was
the vociferous Kotoko supporters who went ecstatic and jubilant
in the 4th minute as strong, Ivorian attacker, Ahmed Toure
powerfully fired the fabulous team into the lead with a
tenacious left-foot shot which beat goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.
Alex Asamoah initiated that onslaught on the
Phobians following a long kick inside from goalkeeper Isaac
Amoako who had a brilliant afternoon in post.
Alex Asamoah’s pass to the well-positioned
Ahmed Toure was faultless, and the delivery from the Ivorian
goal poacher was simply perfect as he put the ball beyond the
reach of Hearts’ trusted goalkeeper.
The goal did not unsettle the Phobians as
they fought courageously to push Kotoko back into their half but
were unsuccessful. Hearts again dominated the midfield action by
having too many touches yet found it extremely difficult to
penetrate the unyielding Kotoko back four comprising Yaw
Frimpong on the right, Prince Anokye on the left with the
uncompromising Awal Mohammed and the lanky but tough John
Kuffour in the middle.
The Awal-Kuffour combination at the rear was
effective because they kept the Hearts attack completely at bay
throughout the first half.
Hearts’ resort to brute tackles to
intimidate Kotoko in midfield yielded no positive result. Kotoko
were much organised with Michael Akuffo, Frank Boateng, Daniel
Nii Adjei and Fatawu Mohammed firmly controlling the ball,
stringing decent passes and in addition outwitting their markers
with confidence.
Kotoko’s stunning touches in midfield sent
their massive fans cheering them all over the stadium. The
response from the fabulous lads in the 19 minute was
unmistakable. Skipper Daniel Nii Adjei, profiting from an
excellently Ahmed Toure-Alex Asamoah work upfront, sent a
terrific long strike
which zoomed straight into the net. Hearts had gone down 2-0 in
just 19 minutes!
Kotoko could have easily scored three more
goals but for the unpardonable misses by Alex Asamoah and Ahmed
Toure who terrorised the Hearts defence. Toure was on most
occasions a victim of rough tackles but it has to be noted that
Kotoko also dabbled too much in needless theatrics especially in
the second half.
That slowed the tempo of Kotoko’s game
forcing Hearts do everything to secure what turned out to be the
elusive goal. The Phobians won as many as seven corner kicks in
the second half but none could beat the watchful Kotoko defence.
The joy for Kotoko fans, players and
officials was massive as the referee brought proceedings to an
end.
Sunday’s impressive win pushed the
Porcupines one step up on the league log – from 4th to 3rd
position with 34 points and eight games remaining.
Winning the league title may well be out of
Kotoko’s reach, but team still has to work hard to grab a
respectable top four place.
Kotoko line-up: Isaac
Amoako, Yaw Frimpong, Prince Anokye, John Kuffour, Awal
Mohammed, Michael Akuffo, Frank Boateng, Daniel Nii Adjei, Ahmed
Toure/Albert Bruce, Fatawu Mohammed/Afranie Yeboah, Alex
Asamoah/Stephen Oduro.
Hearts line-up: Sammy
Adjei, Bobbie Ansah, Owusu Sefa, Philip Boampong, Osei Bonsu,
Samuel Nzemoeba, Theophilus Apoh, Esme Mends, Mahatma Otoo,
Uriah Asante/OwusuAfriyie, Obed Ansah/Abraham Annan.
