The game which came off at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday (July 1) was played in honour of President H.E John Mahama and also to celebrate Ghana’s ‘Republic Day.’
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Kotoko beat Hearts on penalties to win trophy
Match report of the President's Cup game between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.
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It wasn’t an impressive attendance for Hearts of Oak- Asante Kotoko duel at the Accra Sports Stadium but the two teams were in full gear aiming to win the giant trophy at stake.
Asante Kotoko began the game as the dominant side as they piled pressure on the Phobians and they had four-corner kicks in succession but they couldn’t make good use of it.
The Porcupine Warriors never allowed the Phobians to settle in the game as they bombarded the Accra giants with a lot of attacks. Hearts of Oak were left off the hook as Inusah Musah in the 8th minute cleared Dauda Mohammed’s header on the goal line.
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Moment later, the Phobians initiated their first attack but Cosmos Duda failed to connect Patrick Razak’s low cross. Thomas Abbey who was used as make-shift left had it difficult to curtail the movement of Sarfo Gyamfi.
Hearts of Oak warmed themselves slowly into the game. However, Kotoko defenders dealt with the Phobians attacking machinery led by Cosmos Dauda. Patrick Razak in the 18th minute had the best chance in the game as he dribbled two Kotoko players including goalkeeper Ernest Sowah but he failed to put the ball at the back of the net.
Half an hour mark, the tempo of the game increased but both sides lack the idea at goal. It was Kotoko who effected their substitution as Evans Quao came on for Tuffuor Frimpong.
Hearts of Oak ended the first half on a good note as they pitched camp at Kotoko half. They couldn’t unlock the strong defense of the Kumasi based club and with a minute of time added on, the first half was brought to an end by referee Awal Mohammed.
From recess, the Phobians started the game brightly as they kept the heat on their rivals but Kotoko stood to the test. The Kumasi based side settled and began to put pressure on Hearts of Oak – Roben Gnagne in defense for the Phobians foiled Kotoko attacks with big boot clearances.
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The two teams were cautious, they failed to commit more men forward, Kotoko effected their second substitution - Bennet Ofori came on for Obed Owusu.
The intensity of the game began to reduce. Hearts of Oak trainer Sergio Traguil played his first card, Samudeen Ibrahim came out for Ollenu Ashittey.
Evans Quao in the 68th minute rattled the cross with a breath taking 25 yards free-kick. A minute later Hearts goalie Sylvanus Gbeti brought the stadium alive as he parried away Dauda Mohammed’s point blank header. With the pressure on the Phobians, they made their second substitution as Ibrahim Musah came on for Cosmos Dauda.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Patrick Razak created a chance for himself as he raced into Kotoko’s goal area but he shot wide.
Heart of Oak improved their performance, putting Kotoko under a lot of pressure, Ibrahim Musah had another opportunity for the Phobians on the edge of Kotoko penalty box but he feebly shot wide.
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Kotoko effected their last substitution as Sarfo Gyamfi came out for Emmanuel Osei, earlier on Hearts of Oak also effected their last substitution – Paul Acquah went in for Isaac Mensah. Those changes failed to yield any dividend as the game ended 0-0 after 90+3 minutes.
In the penalty shoot-out, Amos Frimpong slotted home Kotoko’s last penalty kick after Ibrahim Musah, Paul Acquah, and Patrick Razak missed their kick for Hearts of Oak, earlier on Eric Donkor and Samuel Kyere missed their kick for the Porcupine Warriors.
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