Hearts sets up decider against Kotoko

Accra, April 30, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club set up a mouth watering deciding match towards their eventual winnings of this year's Onetouch Top 4 competition at Sunyani when they spanked Alhaji Grunsah's King Faisal 3-1 in the penultimate round played at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.

Hearts who currently lead the table with nine points are being tailed by Kumasi Asante Kotoko who currently have eight points after they also beat Berekum Arsenal by a similar margin at the Sunyani Coronation Park.


The Phobians, parading their latest acquisition, Hamza Mohammed of Real Tamale United (RTU) started the match on a fast note and stunned Faisal with the opening goal in the fifth minute courtesy a strike by Issah Mohammed.


Faisal who seemed shocked by the blistering start, regrouped quickly to forestall early meltdown with the way the Phobians were playing.


Players of both sides were forced to rely on the long ball as a result of the bumpy nature of the field which made ball control very difficult.

Faisal gradually started creating some anxious moments for the home side as they carried the game into the vital area of the Phobians thus forcing Hearts central defensive pair of Charles Vardis and Kwabena Boafo to resort to some desperate measures to keep their lead. The Phobians run out of luck in the 28th minute when a defensive mix up in the goal area saw the ball breaking kindly to Faisla's Sumaila Nyanya who volleyed his shot into the roof giving Hearts goalie, Laud Quartey no chance.


Hearts sprang back into their rhythm immediately after the equaliser and just three minutes later the Phobians re-took the lead through Rueben Seno who daringly run through to lob a loose ball over advancing Osei Boateng in post for Faisal.


The second half started with Hearts dominating the early exchanges with Eric Gawu and Senyo coming close on a number of occasions. In the 53rd minute, Hearts Coach Oti Akenteng brought on Anthony Annan for Joe Louis whilst Faisal also introduced Eric Adu Poku for Baba Iddi.


The substitution worked for the Phobians who extended their lead in the 70th minute again through opportunist Senyo with his fourth goal in three matches, after he tapped the ball into the net after Faisal's Boateng had spilled a fierce strike from Anthony Annan. Try as Faisal did to crawl back, Hearts remained resolute in defence to end the match in their favour.