Kotoko Deepen Hearts Woes

Jubilant Kotoko players and team doctor waving at their cheering fans

Asante Kotoko yesterday shrugged off a dawn armed-robbery attack, on the playing body, to inflict a 2-1 defeat on their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak at the Accra Stadium.

Left back Amos Frimpong headed home a corner kick in the first half to put the Porcupine Warriors in front.

Before the opener, Hearts pressured Kotoko, and one of their runs resulted in a penalty which stoked intense protest from the Kotoko playing body and the fans alike.

But the technical team calmed the boys down. And when they resumed play, young goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi rose to the occasion by palming away skipper Robin Gnagne's kick.

Hearts' incessant attacks yielded profit along the line after the break, when Fiovi Agude incidentally headed beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ofori Antwi from a free kick to level the scores.

A few minutes later, Hearts came close again to scoring but goalkeeper Antwi sprang to flip the ball over the bar.

Hearts coach Eddie Ansah threw in burly forward Gilbert Fiamenyo for Kenneth Okoro, who had a fine afternoon; but the former Lions man failed to click, except on one occasion when Antwi again proved equal to the challenge.

Both sides threatened to take the front seat on many occasions but near misses robbed them until striker Dauda Mohammed made good use of a loose ball, with his right foot to restore Kotoko's lead, six minutes to the end of the game.

Kotoko’s Ata Kusi giving Hearts’ Fiovi Agude a hot chase on the flanks

FCPL Scores @ A Glance
Allies 2, Lions 1
All Stars 1, Edubiase 0
BA 0, Aduana 1
Chelsea 1, Medeama 1
Ashgold 1, Liberty 1
Hearts 1, Kotoko 2
Hasmal 1, Oly 1
WAFA 0, Bechem Utd 0  
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum