Soccer- Hearts win the hard way

Accra (Greater Accra), 22nd July 99 ?

Accra Hearts of Oak overcame an early set back to beat visiting Real Tamale United 3-2 in their 21st week ABC Golden Lager premier football league mid-week match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

Striker Joe Fameyeh's 78th minute goal won the day for Hearts in a match that their attackers, especially Osumanu Amadu, wasted a lot of scoring opportunities.

RTU, who played a more tactical game, kept the Phobians in their own territory for most of the time.

Smallish Stephen Oduro, who scored both goals for RTU, unsettled the home team with a 26th-minute lovely shot after he had latched on to Fatal Haruna's pass to place the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Eben Dida.

Just after the goal, the visitors recoiled into their shelves and allowed Hearts to take control of the game. It came as no surprise when Hearts scored two quick goals to take the lead before the break.

Osei Kuffour connected home Fameyeh's free-kick from the far right corner of the visitors' penalty area and Fameyeh hit the net from a low grounder.

Ten minutes after the break, RTU brought on ex-Hearts player Martin Appau, whose goal-bound shot in the 58th minute, hit the hand of skipper Jacob Nettey in his box for the Tamale boys to be awarded a spot-kick. Oduro converted it for RTU's equaliser.

RTU paid dearly for indiscipline as two of their players, Musah Ibrahim and substitute Appau were shown the red card in the 69th and 90th minutes respectively.

Ibrahim was shown the yellow card by Kumasi-based class one referee G. K. Zorve for a reckless tackle on Kuffour. Apparently not happy with the decision, he challenged the referee and was red carded.

Appau, who refused to give back the ball to the referee after he had picked a yellow card, was sent off for dissent.

Hearts, who enjoyed a numerical advantage from the 69th minute, could not find the net again until the 78th minute when Fameyeh intercepted a pass and chipped the ball into the net for the match winner.

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