Top4: Hearts beat RTU 1-0

Kumasi, Feb 6, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak beat Real Tamale United (RTU) 1-0 in the GHALCA/Coca Cola Top Four Tournament at the Kumasi Sports stadium on Sunday.

Lawrence Adjei scored the only goal in the 11th minute with a perfect shot from a Wisdom Agbexo's cross.

Playing a determined game, Hearts went into action from the kick-off and nearly had the opener in the first minute but Adjei shot wide, whilst Joe Tagoe also missed a chance in the fourth minute. RTU accepted the challenge and earned a corner in the fifth minute but wasted it.

They however, continued to pile pressure on Hearts and this nearly paid off but were unlucky when Joseph Agyei's shot was timely saved by Hearts keeper, Suleimana Abubakar in the 15th minute.

Richmond Anderson of Hearts was shown the yellow card in the 24th minute for dissent while Razak Baker of RTU was also booked in the 34th minute for rough play.

Baba Mumuni of RTU nearly equalised in the 45th minute but his shot was perfectly saved by keeper Abubakar.

Both teams resumed the second half vigorously with RTU slightly on top but the defence of Hearts refused to bulge with the game from then becoming a ding-dong affair.

RTU brought on Gafaru Abdulai for Mumuni in the 56th minute to strengthen the attack while Hearts also substituted Richard Anderson for Douglas Nkrumah in the 71st minute and Kwabena Dodzi for Adjah Tetteh in the 73rd minute.

The substitutions did not bring any change into the game and it was however, RTU who seemed more determined to redeem their image. Hearts, sensing danger, brought in Ken Asamoah for Adjei in the 78th minute and this nearly paid off for them to increase the tally but Wisdom Agbexo fumbled and allowed goalkeeper Wahib Mustapha in goal for RTU to save the situation.

RTU mounted a last minute onslaught, defying all odds but could not find the equaliser till the final whistle.

The best player award went to Joe Tagoe of Hearts who received a Ghetto blaster and Coca Cola products.