Accra, Dec. 5, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak suffered yet another loss at home after visiting Berekum Arsenal licked them 1-0 in their Week 14 Glo Premiership encounter at Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday. Midfielder Richard Osei Bonsu finished off his side's best chance of the game in 11 minutes to hand the Phobians their fifth defeat in the 14-week old premiership.
The canker that has been eating up the Phobians at their cherished grounds this season reared its ugly head again as they displayed an output bereft of a club that has annexed the annual championship 20-times, one adrift archrivals Asante Kotoko.
Against the run of play, Arsenal shot into the lead when Osei Bonsu connected from Mouomouni Ouattara's shot that went through the legs of Hearts goalie Sammy Adjei.
The Phobians lost the middle battle as the trio of returnee Tetteh Nortey, Moro Abubakari and Uriah Asante failed to make the needed impact leaving the attack virtually non-existent.
Hearts struggled to string passes with left-winger Abdul Bashiru serving the brightest spot, but Top Four revelation Edwin Osei turned villain with his sluggish finishing each time he approached the final third. With no clear cut chance at goal, the hosts resumed from recess on a purposeful note and Abubakari showed traits of that intent with a bullet-strike that missed narrowly few minutes into the second half. Hearts coach Paa Kwesi Fabin made two changes by pulling out Osei and Asante for John Antwi and Owusu Afriyie respectively but it was the latter that proved effective with his runs upfront.
For Owusu, he made his foot do the talking against his handicapped physique and won the hearts of the young crowd at the stadium, but his colleagues made little effort to make his sweat count. The rest of the game was Bashiru against Arsenal as the left winger launched consistent solo runs into the Arsenal half, but their defenders remained resolute.
On 77 minutes, the best chance of the Phobians missed narrowly with Antwi's connection to Nkrumah's half volley following a move initiated by Bashiru.
It was the closest the Phobians came to drawing parity as Arsenal held onto a famous victory over the Phobians.
