Tofig Alolo's 86th penalty goal was all that Real Tamale United needed to collect the three maximum points from Accra Hearts of Oak when they clashed in the GT Premier League match at the Kaladan Park in Tamale on Sunday. RTU started the game on a whirlwind fashion and quickly got a corner kick in the third minute, which mid fielder, Hamza Mohammed floated into the Hearts goal area and a Hearts player used his hand to divert the ball to be cleared to safety.
Referee Gyansah Muller from Ashanti Mampong who was right on the spot whistled for a penalty but Alhassan Weah's kick hit the cross bar. Sensing danger, Hearts raised the tempo of their game but Prince Togoe missed a goal scoring chance when his shot hit the goal posts back into play for the RTU goalie to make a timely save. Weah also meandered his way through the Hearts defence from the left flank and sent a cross into the Hearts goal area, which Gafaru Abdulai headed towards goal but keeper Mohammed Saani of Hearts made an expert save. Ever busy Tofiq was brought down outside the Hearts 18-yard area in the 24th minute and Hamza's resultant kick was wasted and followed up later to nearly score in the 32nd minute but the ball missed the posts narrowly. With Joe Louis and Mohammed Hassan operating beautifully from the wings and Prince Tagoe playing at the centre, they kept the RTU defence to over work in containing them and Tagoe's header in the 50th minute saw the RTU goalie struggling to make a save.
RTU after the threat took control of the game and kept the Hearts goal area boiling with sustained pressure but erratic shooting by the attackers and good goal keeping from the Heart goalie denied them of any goals till the end of the first half. When the second half resumed it was still RTU who were in total command of the game and continued to besiege the Hearts goal area while Hearts defended gallantly. The pressure on the visitors was so intense that it therefore came as no surprise when a Hearts defender pushed down Alolo in their 18 yard box when the striker was in a good position to deliver a shot at goal in the 86th minute.
Referee Muller whistled for a penalty, which Tofiq Alolo expertly converted for the only goal for RTU but the Hearts players protested vehemently against the penalty but the referee stuck to his decision. After the goal, Hearts from thereon came out from the defensive stance to attack in search for the equaliser but it was still RTU who had the better part of the game till the referee brought the game to an end.
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