Overseas-based Ghanaian professionals on Wednesday confirmed their superiority over Accra Hearts of Oak when they defeated them 3-1 in an exciting friendly encounter between the current league leaders and the select professional side.
Hearts had earlier lost 0-1 to the same side on Sunday and were hoping to use this occasion to make amends. Parading experienced players like good-old Yaw Acheampong, Sam Johnson, goalkeeper Edward Ansah and complemented by the sublime skills of Derek Boateng, Ofori Quaye, Ishmael Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Michael Essien among other, the professionals stunningly clicked like a team and proving every moment how dangerous they can be when let loose.
Ironically, Hearts were the first to draw blood after only five minutes into the 80-minute thriller with a tremendous distant-low drive from Adjah Tetteh which zoomed into the far right corner, leaving goalkeeper Ansah in wonderland. The early initiative stirred the devils in the professionals as they attacked in droves, creating a lot of anxious moments for the Hearts backline but they were let down by poor finishing.
As usual, goalkeeper Sammy Adjei was fantastic in the Hearts posts, pulling a lot of breath-taking saves of Derek Boateng and Ofori Quaye’s drives to end the half. With the injection of Robert Sabah, Amankwah Mireku and Edmund Copson to pump some more blood into the arteries of the professionals, they became almost unstoppable as Sabah found the net with a non-dropper in the 46th minute for the equaliser.
Dare-devil striker Ishmael Addo failed to connect an intelligent Peter Ofori Quaye’s cross but three minutes later, the former three-time goalking made amends as dribbled past the Hearts defence including goalie Sammy Adjei and slot home the professionals’ second goal.
With defeat looming large, Hearts coach Herbert Addo made a number of changes, bringing on Osumanu Amadu, Charles Allotey, Kenneth Sarpong and others but Egypt-based substitute goalie Abukari Tanko passed the test with distinction. Greek-based Ofori Quaye sealed the doom of the Phobians in the 78th minute with a classic non-drop drive that had the touch of an amazing finisher. It was a well-carved victory.
