Unstoppable Hearts romp five goals Sable d'Batie

Accra, Oct 17, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oaks played an attacking brand of football not see of them for a long time to revive their faltering Confederations Cup campaign when they thumped Sable d'Batie of Cameroon 5-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Hearts who went into the game against the backdrop of not so impressive performance on the local front, defied all the odds to exact a sweet revenge over the Cameroonians who beat them 2-0 in the first leg match played in Cameroon two weeks ago.

Hearts drove home their intensions of carrying the day as early as the fifth minute when Bernard Don Bortey flashed his effort just off the mark after he was left unmarked.

With their tails up, Hearts were nearly brought down to earth when a miscommunication between Daniel Coleman and goalkeeper Mohammed Saani nearly resulted in disaster for them in the 12th minute.

The Cameroonians were the first to go into the referee's book in the 16th minute with a late tackle on Hearts Adjah Tetteh by Kamajou Paulin.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 17th minute when Francis Bossman dived full length to head into the net a well-floated ball from Louis Agyeman who had a great game.

Hearts determined to win big, pushed more men into attack and almost had the second goal in the 22nd minute when Prince Tagoe's effort just missed the post with Sable's goalkeeper, Asliu Martin Beteck completely beaten.

Adjah Tetteh called on Beteck to make a double save in the 25th and 26th minutes, one from a shot and another from a header after a corner kick to keep his team in the game.

Against the run of play, Hearts were rattled in the 32nd minute when from a quick counter attack Sable's Kamajou Paulin was left unmarked to fire in an unstoppable shot that unfortunately rebounded off the goalpost to the relieve of the near capacity crowd.

Bossman had a great opportunity in the 39th minute to increase his side's tally when from another quick counter attack between Bortey and Agyeman left him only with the goalkeeper at his mercy but the striker failed to maintain his composure and shot straight at advancing keeper.

With a minute to the end of the first half, the second goal for Hearts came courtesy a break from the right which saw Bortey lay the ball on the path of Agyeman who in turn cleverly redirected the ball unto the path of Prince Tagoe who wasted no time to slot in the first of his three goals.

Though the Cameroonians, led by their goalkeeper protested vehemently that Tagoe was in an offside position before he scored, the referee had none of it as he stuck to his decision and allowed the goal to stand.

Back from recess, Hearts did not let off any steam as they went straight into attack and just four minutes into the second half, they scored their third goal when Tagoe headed in a rebound into the net after the Sable keeper failed to make a first time save of Bossman's shot from close range.

The Cameroonians sensing total annihilation by the Phobians, brought some life into their game and had their best chance in the 53rd minute but with only goalkeeper Saani to beat, Mauga Gildas flashed his effort just wide off target.

The Cameroonians, determined not to go down without a fight pulled back a goal in the 63rd minute when substitute Emaleu Sarge rose to head a cross from hard working Mbatchou Alain into the net. But any idea of a fight back by the Cameroonians was quelled in the 65th minute when Bortey curled in a neat cross from the edge of the box from a free kick straight into the net after Adjah Tetteh had been brought down for the fourth goal.

Hearts brought on Emmanuel Osei Kuffour for Francis Bossman in the 72nd minute and the effect was immediate when Tagoe found himself unmarked in the Batie goal area to tap in a corner kick expertly taken by Amankwah Mireku.

Tagoe gave way for Ablade Morgan in the 77th minute, and the substitute also came very close in the 78th and 81st minutes but for some daring saves by the Batie goalkeeper to end the exciting game 5-1 in favour of Hearts.

Line Up. (Hearts): - Mohammed Saani, Amankwah Mireku, Acquah Harrison, Daniel Coleman, Dan Quaye, Eric Nyarko, Adjah Tetteh, Louis Agyeman, Prince Tagoe/Ablade Morgan, Francis Bossman/Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Bernard Don Bortey/Lawrence Adjei.

Sable d'Batie: - Aliu Martin Beteck, Njankovo Abdul Fatah, Moussongui Benoit/Nleng Mathias, Boyomo Fuidolim, Tchamba Samuel, Valey Tenfa, Mauga Gildas, Okang Abang, Kamajou Paulin, Ngon Some Bernard/Sarge Emaleu, Mbatchou Alain.