Hearts close in on Kotoko on League log

Accra , Jan. 08, GNA - Accra Hearts Oak SC are joint League leaders with arch rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko on the Premier League log, after they defeated Obausi Ashgold 3-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium, in their 13th week League game at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Hearts now share the top spot with their perennial rivals on 25 points apiece, after Kotoko failed to make the best out of their home game against Aduana Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Hearts opened the scores in the first half through a penalty in the 31st minute, which was converted by Douglas Nkrumah after he was fouled in the vital area of the visitors.

The home team held on to the lead till the close of the first half and increased the tally quickly in the second half with a spectacular drive from Mahatma Otoo in the 53rd minute.

Otoo, who exhibited one of his key trademarks, picked a ball from the edge of the box shrugged off challenge from two defenders of Ashgold before delivering a powerful shot that zoomed past keeper Fatau Dauda for the second goal.

Despite the lead of the Phobians, it was the Miners who were on top of the exchanges as they mounted pressure on Hearts to redeem their image.

They succeeded in pulling back a goal in the 66th minute when Yakubu Mohammed latched on a pass from the heart of the field and fired past goal keeper Sammy Adjei to reduce the tally.

Hearts remained the better side at goal and with Ashgold down by a man following a red card flashed on defender John Ashong, they took advantage of their numerical strength and scored the third goal from an intelligent chip from the foot of Isaac Ofori.

Nimble footed Ofori who was located with a cross in the penalty box, dummied two defender and curled the ball into the corner of the goal post with Dauda again struggling to find an answer.

With four minutes of added on time, Mohammed's deflected free-kick beat Sammy Adjei again for the second goal for the Miners but it came late to at least even grant them a point as Hearts went away with the three points at stake.

GNA