Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 --
Accra Hearts of Oak, back from their successful continental assignment, put up a sky-high, spirited performance to pip a resurgent Obuasi Goldfields by a lone goal in their 14th week ABC premier league match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Substitute striker Osumanu Amadu fetched the only goal for the Phobians in the 53rd minute.
Both teams stormed the stadium in unusual jerseys - Hearts in red and yellow, and Goldfields in an all-green outfit. The miners took control moments after Hearts had kicked off and nearly unsettled the Phobians in the 10th and 37th minutes.
Nana Ahin Duah, who was blessed with the two glorious chances, lobbed the ball over the cross bar in the first instance and shot wide off-target in the 37th minute.
The only chance that came the way of Hearts was in the 25th minute when their lone striker, Joe Fameyeh, sneaked through the crack defence of the miners, but his tricky shot hit the hand of central defender Mike Ofori. This was ignored by Sunyani-based FIFA referee Emmanuel Bissi.
Osumanu Amadu, who came on for sluggish Desmond Amoah at the commencement of the second half, brought life into the Hearts attack with a one-two move with Fameyeh.
It was during one of such moves that he latched onto a through-ball by Fameyeh to lob it over onrushing lanky goalkeeper Mike Robertson in the 53rd minute.
Eight minutes later inside left Joe Okyere, in a solo move, went through the Hearts defence, but his left-footed shot missed the upright narrowly.
Hearts brought on Lukeman Olaya and Joe Ansah for Kenneth Sarpong and Edmund Copson in the 66th and 74th minutes, while Goldfields sent in Tony Arhinful and Camara Salifu for Mike Ofori and Joe Okyere in the 84th and 87th minutes. But the changes could not alter the score line.
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