Hearts beat Glow Lamps Academy in friendly

Togolese striker Kwomi Foovi Aguidi starred in Hearts of Oak’s 1-0 victory over Division 2 side Glow Lamps Academy yesterday at the Legon Ajax Park.

He won the decisive free-kick that was beautifully swept home by Leonard Tawiah midway in the second half.

Odartey Lamptey’s Academy side held their own and exhibited great composure on the ball, but they were let down by their striker B. James, who spurned three good chances in the game.

Hearts are gearing up for Sunday’s Top 4 clash with AshgantiGold, and they handed starts to ex-Kotoko goalkeeper Seidu Mutawakil, Dwarfs defender Vincent Atinga, and Tamale Utrecht striker Sakara Sani, who partnered Selasi Adjei at the top of attack.

The youngsters from Glow Lamp Academy dictated play in the opening half hour but they could not breakdown the Hearts defense marshalled by Atinga and Boampong.

Selasi Adjei, mindful of the new competition upfront, put up a good show at the tip of the Hearts attack, but he could still not open his scoring in preseason after he was step up by Kumi.

Herbert Addo introduced Burkina-base Togolese striker Fofovi for Selasi Adjei in the 34th minute.

But the new entrant wasted a good chance to claim the plaudits after the ball landed comfortably for the striker in the box, but his chipped effort was saved by the keeper.

Hearts got the only goal of the game in the 75th minute after Foovi was upended just outside the box.

Tawiah Leonard flashed a swerving cross over the wall for the only goal of the game.

The match opened up in the closing stages but when B. James run through on goal, he was slightly pushed from behind by Boampong, but the youngster raced up to get the ball instead of lying down, but he fell on the ball with the keeper at his mercy.

Hearts ruin the closing stages of the game with a lot of substitution. They will play Ashgold on Sunday in the replay of the 2014 GHALCA Top 4 finals.

Hearts starting XI: Seidu Mutawakil (Kingsley Kissi 84), Fatau Mohammed, Isaac Oduro (Hamza Fuseini 45), Vincent Atinga, Philip Boampong (Aziz Abankwa 84), Leonard Tawiah (Emmanuel Laryea 84), Eric Kumi (Isaac Mensah), Kofi Abanga (Emmanuel Odartey 84), Selasi Adjei (Kwomi Fofovi 34), Sakara Sani ( Abubakr Swalla 34/ Fred Acheampong 70), Maxwell Boakye (Isaac Mensah 45).