Soccer- Hasmal shock Hearts with a lone goal

Sekondi (Western Region), 6th May ?99 ?

A 55th minute goal scored by inside left John Ainoo enabled Sekondi Hasaacas to beat Accra Hearts of Oak in their 10th week ABC premier league outstanding match played at the Sekondi Gyandu Park on Wednesday.

Hearts, who were the first to go into action, found the net in the first minute of the game through Joe Fameyeh, but referee A. Amevor of Ho ruled it offside.

Hearts protested briefly but the referee stood by his decision.

When the game resumed, Hearts dominated play but failed to translate their dominance into goals.

Hasaacas lifted their game in the second half and scored the only goal through Ainoo in the 55th minute in a goal-mouth action.

Try as they did, Hearts could not equalise.

In Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat King Faisal 2-1 in their match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

Kotoko, facing a lean season, raced into an early lead when former international star, Robert Boateng, galloped along the right flank and placed the ball in the path of advancing Nicholas Addo, whose 30-metre shot hit the back of the net in one minute 35 seconds.

Bolstered by the early lead and backed by cheers from the fairly large crowd, Kotoko increased their work rate as they attacked from all angles.

Faisal counter-attacked in the 11th minute and nearly scored the equaliser when jittery goalkeeper Michael Abu dropped the ball from a powerful shot by speedster Joe Louis. The defence managed to kick the ball out.

Kotoko struck again in the 12th minute when Burkinabe import, Kambou Clovis, latched onto the ball from a Robert Boateng pass and scored with a terrific shot.

After the commanding lead Kotoko relaxed, allowing Faisal, led in attack by diminutive Joe Louis, to dictate the pace of the game, as the Kotoko players struggled to cope with the pace of the game.

Kotoko were sluggish and uninspiring after recess, as Faisal captured the midfield, with Louis and Joe Agyeman terrorising their defence.

Joe Louis capped his brilliance in the 66th minute, when his low shot beat goalkeeper Abu, who dived too late to stop the ball as it rolled gently into the net.

Faisal staged a last minute rally as they piled on pressure to score the equaliser, but the Kotoko defence gallantly warded off all dangerous moves.

GRi?/