Top4: Hearts back in contention

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak struggled back into contention for honours in the Coca Top Four Tournament when they defeated Kpando Heart of Lions by a lone goal at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on Sunday.

Hearts who are still in a transitional period with the trial of their newly recruited players, struggled throughout the match to keep their one nil lead that was scored in the second minute of the game from the boot of Joe Tagoe.

This was after the "prodigal son", Samed Abdul Awudu also known as "Okocha" laid a crooked pass on the path of Tagoe who stretched to hit the ball pass goalkeeper Mozart Adjetey in post for Lions against the posts into goal.

The win increased the point margin of the Phobians to eight to now share the top spot with Kumasi King Faisal who surprisingly lost their game against Real Tamale United (RTU) by a lone goal at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

The two teams are however separated at the top with goal difference with Hearts having a less difficult game against RTU at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium whilst Faisal will have to go deep down into their reserves in their game against Lions to end the competition.

The Kpando lads who had exhibited great performances in all their matches in the competition, were at the same level with Hearts but were denied the opportunity to move ahead with their inability to convert the numerous scoring opportunities that came their way coupled with the agility of Hearts goalie, Saanie Mohammed.

Mohammed, who emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was rewarded with a ghetto blaster and products of the sponsors, made as many as four clear saves of the chances from the boots of Lions' Sadat Bukari, Haminu Dramani and Bob Zeo that could have won the day for them. In spite of this, Lions never relented in their efforts to get the equaliser, but always found themselves wanting in front of the goal, after penetrating the porous Hearts defence.

Hearts gradually found their rhythm in the last quarter of the game and spurred on by skipper Adjah Tetteh and Joe Tagoe, the 2004 Confederation Cup Champions could not increase their tally with Lawrence Adjei blasting off a last minute opportunity to deny his side an insurance goal.

In a bid to avoid their first defeat in the competition, Lions launched a final onslaught on Hearts but watched in pain a goal bound shot from Bukari as it missed the target narrowly.