Hearts Thrash Kade Hotspurs 5-1

Defending champions, Accra Hearts of Oak annihilated Kade Hotspurs 5-1 at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra in the penultimate fixture of the 2005 Ghana Telecom Premier League.

Prince Tagoe consolidated his lead in the goal king race by scoring four times, while gangling support striker Eric Quarshie completed the rout for Hearts of Oak with a stupendous dead ball strike. Prince, who took his tally to 17 with his four of the day, scored the opener on 14 minutes when he tapped in an Amankwah Mireku pass form the right, leaving goalkeeper Michael Abu stranded and hopeless. Midway through the first half, Hearts earned a free-kick on top of Hotspurs penalty area and Prince Tagoe treaded the ball to Eric Quarshie who fired a right footed cannon that grazed the left upright before curving into the net.

Hearts dominated in possession and could have got a few more goals but Tagoe failed to sparkle despite the numerous through balls that he received in attack.

Early in the second half, Tagoe's lucky charm shone brilliantly when he made it three for Hearts after picking himself off the turf from a crunchy tackle to convert the resultant penalty kick. Five minutes later, the referee whistled for another penalty for Hearts when Tagoe was upended in the box once again, but this time, he shot wide to the amazement of the Hearts bench.

Tagoe who is frequently referred to as the "Prince of gaols" by the faithful Hearts of Oak supporters soon made amends for the penalty miss when he ran through the Hotspurs defence to plant the ball in to increase the count to four for Hearts of Oak.

Eben Dida who was virtually on holidays had the unpleasant task of picking the ball from his net when Annas Mohammed sliced a shot in from the penalty area after exchanging passes with Amui Quaye.

The goal appeared to have inspired the visitors who came forward a couple of times in search of another, but they soon lost control once again and allowed Hearts of Oak to push them back on the retreat. Consequent of the Hearts dominance, Prince Tagoe intercepted a pass from a careless defender and poked in another goal, the fifth for Hearts and his personal fourth, to end the game 5-1 for the defending champions who went into the match, four points behind leaders, Asante Kotoko whose match against Real Tamale United in Tamale ended abruptly in the second half due to crowd violence.