Match report: Hearts end 8-year home winless run against Kotoko

A game of two halves, decided by a penalty that awakened the fury of the Kotoko family that saw Hearts ending their 8-year winless run against their bitterest rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in Accra. The super clash ended with Hearts fans being the happier of the two.

In quite a superstitious manner, the Kotoko players made their way to the pitch with their backs facing the pitch. Hearts on the other hand entered in groups of five led by skipper Thomas Abbey

The game started on a dramatic note with three Hearts players falling down in a space of five minutes for reasons that will forever remain unknown. The medical team attended to them and the game came alive much to the excitement of the thousands of supporters that gathered at the ‘nation’s Wembly’

Kumasi Asante Kotoko were the dominant of the two teams in the opening half with the first goal scoring opportunity coming from an exquisite set-piece taken by the diminutive Emmanuel Gyamfi that was met with an equally great save by surprise candidate for Hearts in goalpost Samuel Akurugu in the 23rd minute

From there it was all Kotoko. The Porcupines threw all forms of attacks at Hearts of Oak but the Phobian defense led by the ever consistent Inusah Musah stood their grounds and ensured that the first half of the game ended with the virginity of the game still intact

The introduction of the speedster Patrick Razak brought a different dimension to the game with the wing play of Hearts of Oak resulting in some decent chances but overelaboration on the part of midfield orchestra Samudeen Ibrahim and Alex Koussi's profligacy kept the game barren.

Hearts were hit with a huge injury blow with defensive colossus Inusah Musah having to pave way for Richard Akrofi but the men of the great Oak Tree did not shirk their defensive responsibilities as they dealt well with the attacks from the Kotoko trio of Emmanuel Gyamfi , Ollenu Ashitey and Yakubu Mohammed

With the pace and intensity of the game having dropped to its lowest ebb, both set of fans braced themselves up for a goalless draw but the stadium was set agog with a penalty in the 80th minute against Kumasi Kotoko after a Sam Yeboah strike came off the hands of Kotoko defender Ahmed Adams.

Defender Vincent Atinga stood up and calmly slotted the ball into the net, sending goalkeeper Felix Annan the wrong way. With less than 5 minutes to go Hearts had their noses in front.

Kotoko threw more men forward in a bid to find the equalizer but the Hearts players ensured that the match dubbed ‘The Super clash’’ ended with a 1-nill score line in favour of the home team, Accra Hearts of Oak.