Hearts feast on TP Mazembe

Accra, April 4, GNA-Free scoring Accra Hearts of Oak inflicted a convincing 4-0 defeat on visiting TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo in an international friendly played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The goal feast which marks the debut of the Phobians in the year, saw an entirely different set that included only a few members of the regular boys firing from all cylinders to ensure victory.

Hearts young Louis Agyemang who from all indications made the difference in the team's attack, even though playing in an unfamiliar position upfront, shuffled well and combined effectively with Emmanuel Osei Kuffour without blemish.

Agyemang's composure manifested itself as an assert upfront that saw the natural defender opening the floodgates in the 10th minute having benefited from an off side trap to race deep into Mazemde's goal area after he was set clear with a through pass by Adjah Tetteh from the mid field.

Inspired by the early goal, Hearts launched series of onslaught on the visitors who exhibited luck of ideas coupled with poor finishing power even though they did well in "the engine room" where the likes of Ramazani Naawina, Kabany Mulota and Illunga Mukadi won most of the 50-50 balls against Francis Bossman and Adjah Tetteh.

The trend of the game however did not change much but Hearts returned from recess on a faster pace culminating in Kuffour's intelligent lob from a Bernard Don Bortey's set up that went off target.

The visitors found it tough handling slippery Agyemang playing well in the absence of the Lawrence Adjei's and Ablade Morgan's had no option than to whack him in their vital area for the referee to award the Phobians a penalty five minutes after the recess.

Bortey who incurred the wrath of the supporters exactly three weeks ago when he messed up a penalty kick from the same spot in their match against Stade d' Malien at the same venue some how appeased the fans with the second goal amidst cheers from the partisan supporters.

The 2000 CAF Champions did not look back and stimulated by the ever cheering supporters, pressed for more goals which finally came their way five minutes later with a typical Tetteh's lob few meters behind the box which forced goalkeeper Kidoba Muteba to back pedal and overstretch his limit in a belated attempt at stopping the goal bound ball after the midfielder had caught him off his mark.

The forth goal was a matter of course when Kuffour finished off a Bortey set-up which saw Agyemang doing all the dirty work when he weaved his way through a cluster of defenders with power and overwhelming strength. The pendulum of action tilted from one end to the other but that could not change the outcome of the game which saw fans chanting and singing praises to the supposed "new found" coach, Ernst Middendorp's winning formula which have seen them playing less beautiful football, but taking their chances and recording vital goals.