Accra, Aug 31, - Accra Hearts of Oak maintained their winning run when they lifted the Champion of Champions trophy with a 1-0 victory over ABC/FA Cup holders Tema GHAPOHA Readers at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. Hearts, the 1996/97 ABC Premier Football League champions, annexed the King Tackie Tawiah memorial trophy just last week after defeating their traditional city rivals, Accra Great Olympics, by a similar margin at the same venue. Mr Joshua Alabi, Greater Accra Regional Minister, assisted by Nana Sam Brew-Butler, Ghana Football Association chairman, presented the trophy to Hearts' skipper Nii Noi Dowuona. Ironically, it was Dowuona's 16th-minute penalty goal which earned the Phobians the trophy. Hearts kicked off but it was after the 10th minute that they started coming into the game when striker Ian Acquah, who had moved to the right flank, dribbled the ball past a defender and shot at goal, missing the upright narrowly. Dowuona should have opened the scoring for Hearts in the 14th minute but the over-lapping defender shot wide in front of goal. Two minutes later, inside left Desmond Amoah beat his marker and moved threateningly at goal but hard-pressed left full back Jeddy Botwe of GHAPOHA brought him down in the vital area for a spot kick. Dowuona converted it for the only goal of the well-attended match. Hearts' playmaker Charles Allotey was booked in the 21st minute for a foul on Ghapoha's central defender Kofi Amponsah. Hearts, who found their rhythm after the goal, nearly increased their lead in the 23rd minute but Ghapoha's veteran goalkeeper Edward Ansah foiled Amoah's attempt with a diving save. Ansah was again on hand to push Acquah's terrific shot to corner a minute later. A moment of laxity in the Hearts defence nearly resulted in the equalizer in the 39th minute but GHAPOHA's inside left Isaac Boakye's finish off from winger Robert Amoako's pass missed the target narrowly. Hearts took over again after GHAPOHA's miss and nearly scored but veteran Emmanuel Armah headed winger Robert Saba's free kick straight into Ansah's hands in the 43rd minute. Ansah, who foiled Hearts' several attempts at goal with brilliant saves, crowned it with another spectacular performance when he tipped Saba's goal-bound shot to corner mid-way the second session.
Accra, Aug 31, - Accra Hearts of Oak maintained their winning run when they lifted the Champion of Champions trophy with a 1-0 victory over ABC/FA Cup holders Tema GHAPOHA Readers at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. Hearts, the 1996/97 ABC Premier Football League champions, annexed the King Tackie Tawiah memorial trophy just last week after defeating their traditional city rivals, Accra Great Olympics, by a similar margin at the same venue. Mr Joshua Alabi, Greater Accra Regional Minister, assisted by Nana Sam Brew-Butler, Ghana Football Association chairman, presented the trophy to Hearts' skipper Nii Noi Dowuona. Ironically, it was Dowuona's 16th-minute penalty goal which earned the Phobians the trophy. Hearts kicked off but it was after the 10th minute that they started coming into the game when striker Ian Acquah, who had moved to the right flank, dribbled the ball past a defender and shot at goal, missing the upright narrowly. Dowuona should have opened the scoring for Hearts in the 14th minute but the over-lapping defender shot wide in front of goal. Two minutes later, inside left Desmond Amoah beat his marker and moved threateningly at goal but hard-pressed left full back Jeddy Botwe of GHAPOHA brought him down in the vital area for a spot kick. Dowuona converted it for the only goal of the well-attended match. Hearts' playmaker Charles Allotey was booked in the 21st minute for a foul on Ghapoha's central defender Kofi Amponsah. Hearts, who found their rhythm after the goal, nearly increased their lead in the 23rd minute but Ghapoha's veteran goalkeeper Edward Ansah foiled Amoah's attempt with a diving save. Ansah was again on hand to push Acquah's terrific shot to corner a minute later. A moment of laxity in the Hearts defence nearly resulted in the equalizer in the 39th minute but GHAPOHA's inside left Isaac Boakye's finish off from winger Robert Amoako's pass missed the target narrowly. Hearts took over again after GHAPOHA's miss and nearly scored but veteran Emmanuel Armah headed winger Robert Saba's free kick straight into Ansah's hands in the 43rd minute. Ansah, who foiled Hearts' several attempts at goal with brilliant saves, crowned it with another spectacular performance when he tipped Saba's goal-bound shot to corner mid-way the second session.
