Top Four takes a home stretch

Accra, Feb 12, GNA - The Coca Cola Top Four Tourney on Thursday took a home stretch as all the participating club have sort themselves out in the last matches to determine the first two clubs to get the ticket to South Africa.

This follows Accra Hearts of Oak's lone goal victory over their local rivals Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals at the Accra Sports Stadium whilst Kumasi Asante Kotoko and King Faisal settled for a drawn game in their local derby at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

As at the close of today's competition, the three top clubs - Hearts, Kotoko and Faisal all have eight points and lie on the table in that order with Liberty rooted at the bottom with only three points.

The competition has now reached a critical stage and is open to all the contenders but Hearts now only need a draw against Kotoko in their last match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday to grab a ticket while it is a must win situation for Kotoko.

Faisal on the other hand also needs a win to make their dream of playing in the South African edition of the tourney a reality. In the Accra match, Hearts managed to get their lone goal victory over Liberty in a boring game as it lacked the urgency expected in a competitive match.

Both sides approached the first forty-five minutes cautiously as if there was nothing at stake.

Apart from the winning goal that was scored through a penalty in the 45th minute, there was nothing to cheer about.

It was Hearts newly signed on Abdul Samed who weaved through the Liberty defence and was brought down in the 18 box for which referee Vivienne Agoe wasted no time in whistling for the spot kick which Samed elected himself to convert for the only goal of the match.

The second half traveled on the same pattern with none of the sides making any serious and dangerous attempt approach at goal.

In the dying minutes of the game, Hearts however came closer on increasing their tally on some few occasions but Samed, Adjah Tetteh and Lawrence Adjei failed to convert the chances that came their way. Liberty however gave Hearts some scaring moments also in the last minutes as they nearly leveled up matters but their front men led in attack by Micheal Helegbe who emerged man of the match rather decided to hang too long on the ball denying them the equaliser.