Hearts and Okwawu through to ABC/FA Cup Final
Hearts in FA Cup Finals DEFENDING champions, Accra Hearts of Oak, raised high the hopes of their fans for a second major title of the season when they dismissed the bluff of a resilient Dawu Youngsters side with a lone goal victory in their ABC/FA Cup semi-final match which finally came off at the Accra Stadium yesterday. Contrary to the expectation of most Hearts fans that their idol club were going to have a field day, considering their opponents' current low profile, Dawu Youngsters, being the bogey side that they were, proved very unyielding throughout proceedings.
It, therefore, took one piece of perfect judgement by head coach Jones Attuquayefio in the second half to turn the scales in Hearts' favour. Starting the game with determination so predominant in their play, the visitors never seemed overawed as they exhibited some good ball possession and distribution to frustrate their more experienced opponents.
Hearts were just unfortunate to take the lead after 27 minutes when their Nigerian import, Victor Aghoghovwia, who had been sidelined by an ankle injury all season, grazed the upright with a powerful header which bounced just on the goal line only to be cleared to safety by a Dawu defender.
Hearts then took command of the game and probed for the leader which again eluded them a few minutes later when Dawu keeper Sumaila Abdullah, who later endeared himself to the crowd with some grand saves, stretched full limit to push Ishmael Addo's curling shot to corner. Sensing danger, Dawu reacted in the 35th minute with a near miss after burly striker Awudu Adama's header to Abdulai Tahiru's cross had beaten Hearts young goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.
The Phobian fans, however, called for Aghoghovwia's substitution immediately the attacker messed up a glorious chance five minutes to recess. Coach Attuquayefio obliged and brought in Charles Allotey and nimble-footed Kenneth Sarpong (who turned out to be the saviour) for Osumanu Amadu and Aghoghovwia respectively before the restart. The changes proved quite decisive as Hearts assumed the driving seat and afforded dangerman Charles Taylor the impetus to tear apart the Dawu defence on most occasions.
It was just a matter of course when substitute Sarpong hit the back of the net in the 57th minute from his unfavourable left foot following a Taylor corner. With defeat staring them in the face, Dawu exhausted their substitution list in search of the equaliser but it was Hearts who nearly had the laugh again nine minutes from the end but for the crossbar which denied Ishmael Addo.
Line Up: Sammy Adjei, Dan Quaye, Jacob Nettey, Stephen Tetteh/Sahmed, Justice Ampah, Joe Ansah, Victor Aghahowa/Ken Sarpong, Emml Adjogu, Osmanu Amadu/Charles Taylor, Ishmael Addo, Charles Taylor Okwawu through to ABC/FA cup final Okwawu United beat Obuasi Goldfields by 6-5 on penalties at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday to qualify for the grand finale of the ABC/FA Knockout competition. By this victory Okwawu have qualified to meet the winner of Accra Hearts of Oak versus Dawu Youngsters match, which was rescheduled to Thursday at the same venue because of Power failure. When hostilities began under the guidance of Class one referee Jacob Quarshie, it was Goldfields who took the fight to their opponents as they strung passes and threatened Okwawu repeatedly, but goalkeeper, Joseph Aryetey stood his ground with some spectacular saves. In the 25th minute Aryetey saved a grass cutter of a shot from close range thereby denying Abdulai Sylla the opportunity to score. Okwahu responded swiftly and in the 33rd minute Asare Nyarko made a great run down the right flank but his shot missed narrowly. Goalkeeper Aryetey came to the rescue again for Okwawu, when he dived full length, to tip a powerful shot from James Boateng to corner in the 39th minute. Both sides failed to convert any of their chances till the end of the first half. When the second half began, Okwawu showed more commitment and swarmed the territory of Goldfields, looking for the leader. In the 49th minute, Nii Ayi Tetteh's glancing header grazed the top of the upright and veered into touch. Nii Ayi came close again in the 66th minute when he volleyed wide in front of a yawning Goalfields net after keeper Rasheed Campaore had committed himself by moving off his line. In the 82nd minute, Okwawu pushed a ball into the net for what looked like a goal, but the jubilation of the players and fans was short lived as the referee upheld the flag decision of his first assistant, FIFA referee Joseph Mensah for off side positioning. At the other end, Yaw Owusu came within scoring range in the 85th minute but his powerful shot missed narrowly. At the end of regulation time during which both teams failed to score, the penalty rule was invoked and Okwawu converted six, as against five by Goaldfields. Substitute Aminu Musah fluffed the sixth chance for Goldfields when a brilliant thwarted his effort save from Joseph Aryetey, while Isaac Asante converted for Okwawu to send their fans into wild jubilation and a date in the prestigious ABC/FA Knockout final.