A steely AshantiGold performance ensured they beat Accra Hearts of Oak 3-2 on penalties to win the 2010 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Cup.
The game travelled to the lotteries after the two leg tournament ended barren.
Indeed the second leg at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium should have produced an instant winner with the pendulum swinging in Ashgold's favour. But controversial refereeing decisions and jitters from Ashgold strikers in front of goal meant the game would travel the full distance.
Hearts' Sammy Adjei twice pulled off superb penalty saves and twice Hearts had the opportunity to convert their kicks and be crowned winners, but Osei Pele and Seifa Owusu fluffed that opportunities. And when Ashgold converted their last kick, Hearts were left exposed. The miner's goalkeeper, Isaac Akrong, who limped for most part of the game, saved Hearts' final kick to hand Ashgold SWAG's glamorous silverware.
The game was sublime with the two sides having a fair share of possession but the miners were more aggressive upfront.
Ashgold had two penalty calls in each half disallowed by referee Samuel Gyasi.
Samson Cudjoe was the lynchpin in Ashgold's midfield and he pulled the strings so well. He managed to plant the ball in Hearts' posts in the first half but was ruled offside, but on the stroke of full time he wasted what should have been the dagger in the hearts of Hearts. At close range and after a Sammy Adjei howler, Samson Cudjoe surprisingly shot wide.
Hearts' chances were few-and-far-in-between. Enterprising Osei Pele was left all alone upfront with little supplies and support.
The closest Hearts came to scoring was a volley from Abraham Annan which whisked just wide. The former Heart of Lions midfielder struggled for most part and was pulled out by Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin for Douglas Nkrumah, but he too struggled to impress.
A 3-2 penalty kick victory it ended for Ashgold but Coach David Duncan told Myjoyonline.com he could not be satisfied with the results, not least officiating.
He said he was robbed of victory in regulation time.
Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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