WAFA ended Hearts of Oak unbeaten way run in the ongoing campaign as they run riot over the Phobians by winning 3-0 on match day 23 of the 2016 Ghana Premier League on Saturday at the Sogakope Park.
League leaders, Hearts of Oak humbled by WAFA on matchday 23.
The Phobians were reduced to nothing in the first 27 minutes of the game as Komla Agbeniadan scored the first goal, Charles Boateng made it two for the home side before Agbeniadan grabbed his brace on the day.
Hearts of Oak started the game as the brightest side; they had two corner-kicks in the space of one minute and in their aim of getting the first goal – they got stunned as against the round of play WAFA broke the deadlock in the 3rd minute through Komla Agbeniandan.
The Phobians kept the pressure on the home side but WAFA in the 10th minute registered the second goal through Charles Boateng’s half volley following Robin Gnagane failure to clear the ball from the danger zone.
A moment later, Hearts of Oak failed to reduce the deficit after Patrick Razak shot wide after Razak Abolorah palmed off Owusu Bempah’s 25 yards free-kick. Though the Phobians dominated play it was WAFA who created the decent chances in the game.
In the 24th minute Soulama Abdoulaye pulled off a magical safe after he tipped off Charles Boateng’s powerful strike, but the third goal was forthcoming as in the 26th minute the Togolese import Komla Agbenianan bagged his brace after he was put through on goal by Gideon Waja.
The Academy lads took total control of the game as they toyed with the Phobians with their swift and juicy football. In the 40th minute, Soulama Abdoulaye prevented WAFA from getting the fourth after he dived to the full length to stop Charles Boateng’s miscue header from Martin Antwi’s corner-kick.
The home side curtailed the away sides’ movement as they went into the dressing room with a three-goal lead.
From the recess, Sergio Traguil brought on Vincent Atinga and Cosmos Dauda for Robin Gnagne and Leonard Tawiah respectively. With that swift change by the Phobians, WAFA were still the better side on the field.
The double substitution in the 58th minute then began to yield dividend as the pendulum swung into Hearts of Oak favour and Cosmos Dauda in a tussle with two WAFA’ s defenders in the home side’s penalty box shot wide.
Later on, Soulama Abdoulaye was called into action as he parried away Martin Antwi’s goal-bound header. It was back and forth as the Academy lads look dangerous whenever they have possession.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, WAFA reduced the game to a mere training as the Phobians have no answers to the play pattern of the Sogakope based club.
Agbeniadan missed the opportunity to score his hat-trick after he failed to capitalise on a defensive blunder by Vincent Atinga. The Phobians tried their possible best to reduce the deficit, but they couldn’t break WAFA’s solid defence led by Calib Amankwah.
Charles Boateng fluffed the opportunity to score his side’s fourth goal as he skied his shot after he was thread through by second half substitute Majid Ashimeru.
Ashimeru tested Hearts’ goalie from 22 yards; the Burkinabe import spilt off the shot and he saved Antwi’s rebound before Owusu Bempah cleared the ball from the danger zone.
With four minutes of time added on, WAFA protected their three goals lead to win the game.