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6 unforgettable Hearts-Kotoko league clashes in Accra

Pulse Sports statistical analyst Thomas Freeman Yeboah takes you through six (6) most memorable league ties between the Phobians and the Porcupine Warriors, as they face each other on Monday, 2nd May, 2016 in Accra

Kotoko vs Hearts in 2017

Wednesday 9th July 1980

Hearts 0-3 Kotoko

Kotoko were definitely in top gear and with ruthless efficiency, outplayed, outwitted, outjumped, outrun and finally outscored Hearts by an incredible margin of three goals to nothing in this epic outstanding league match.

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This was the first time they inflicted their opponent with such a huge margin in a league encounter. The three goals were scored by Opoku Afriyie , Francis Kumi, Kofi Badu.

Kotoko shot into the lead with just six minutes into the game. A free kick just outside the 18 yard box, well taken by George Kennedy found Francis Kumi, whose header was finally connected by Opoku Afriyie to give an early lead.

Francis Kumi and Kofi Badu were at their best and seized the midfield by displaying good dribbling skills.

A pass from midfield located Francis Kumi, who took three giant steps before connecting home the ball to double Kotoko's lead in the 36th minute

With ten minutes to full time Albert 5 Asase headed in what should have been goal number three but referee S. T. Mensah disallowed it because the goalie was fouled.

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But put the icing on the cake for Kotoko by netting the third goal in the 86th minute to seal the doom of the Phobians in a never to be forgotten afternoon at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Mama Acquah the oldest player of Hearts' team wept, following the defeat.

Sunday Dec 31, 1989

31st revolution match

Hearts of Oak 2-2 Asante Kotoko (6-7p)

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This game was cup cum league match.

Superstition took center stage of the game, as Sarfo Gyamfi, an influential player for Asante Kotoko, having been told by a soothsayer that Kotoko would win the game if only one of their players refuses to exchange hand shake with the head of state, Flt. Llt. Jerry John Rawlings during the inspection of the teams.

Another aspect of the superstition was that the same soothsayer who told Sarfo Gyamfi to snub, the head of state revealed to him that two balls would be used for the game: black and white Adidas balls and blue and white ones. However, Kotoko would win the game should they ensure they deflate the blue and white ones any time they are in use, hence Sarfo Gyamfi told Odoom the goalkeeper for Kotoko to put some needles in his gloves for that exercise. Surprisingly Kotoko scored their two goals from the black and white balls, whereas Hearts got theirs from the blue and white balls. Odoom did what he was instructed to do and at the end of the game he ensured a black and white ball was used for the shootout, which Kotoko won.

Sarfo Gyamfi affectionately called Black President was handed an eight match ban for snubbing, the head of state

Kotoko broke the deadlock of the game in the 43rd minute from the foot of Robert Eshun, but back from recess Hearts of Oak drew level through a 54th minute goal from Ollabade Williams.

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The porcupine Warriors responded quickly within two minutes to restore their lead through a goal by Thomas Boakye nicknamed 'Zion Train', however young defender Joe Addo secured the much needed equalizer for the Phobians.

This season saw the introduction of penalty shootout after a league game had ended in a draw to give the club that wins the shootout an additional one point, hence two points instead of the usual one point for a draw.

In the shootout Kotoko defeated Hearts of Oak by 7 goals to 6 to win the league game on penalties and subsequently emerged victorious in the anniversary match.

Wednesday, 15th March, 2000

Hearts 4 - 0 Kotoko

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There is nothing we can write to do justice to this game. It is the heaviest Hearts of Oak win against Kotoko; it's Kotoko's heaviest defeat against Hearts. It is stands out as the historic score line in the Hearts-Kotoko rivalry; and it has stood as the height to which the new generation of Phobia players can aspire. It is also the single biggest weapon in the Hearts armoury that will silence a million Kotoko supporters. Ishmael Addo's first half exquisite brace, coupled with Kenneth Sarpong's peach of a goal and Emmanuel Osei Kuffor's gorgeous ghosting goal, are the historic moments in Ghanaian club football that will never go into oblivion.

May 9 disaster

Wednesday, May 9th, 2001

Hearts 2-1 Kotoko

There was a lot of tension prior to this game, due to Kotoko's 0-4 loss to Hearts of Oak on the same grounds a season ago, thus were bent on avenging that humiliating defeat.

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The beauty of the game was marred by the death of 127 fans that lost their lives due to a stampede at the Accra Sports Stadium. This is the worst stadium disaster in Africa.

The first half ended without a goal from either sides, but back from recess , Kotoko shot ahead through a brilliant 60th minute goal by Lawrence Adjei whose 25-metre shot slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.

But Hearts' equalizer through Ismael Addo in the 77th minute influenced the incorrigible fans to throw missiles into the stadium in protest against perceived injustice meted out to them by Cape Coast referee J. Wilson-Sey for allowing Addo to equalise from an offside position.

Addo again fired the Phobians into the lead in the 81st minute to secure victory for the Hearts of Oak's team affectionately called the 64 battalions for their fearsome nature.

At the end of the 90 minutes the attention shifted from Ishmael Addo, whose two strikes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for his side's 2-1 victory, to the dead and injured fans.

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The response to this crowd disturbance and throwing of missiles from the police was to fire tear gas into the crowd.

Panic ensued and a resulting stampede led to the deaths of 127 fans from asphyxiation a condition characterised by severe deficient supply of oxygen to the body due to inability to breathe normally.

Sunday June 14, 2009

Hearts 0-1 Kotoko

Kotoko who had lost 1-2 in the first round against Hearts of Oak stormed Accra this time around and avenged that defeat to end their winless streak in Accra in 16 years. The win gave the Porcupine Warriors the momentum to chase for the league title, but it was too little too late, because if they had finished the season on the same points with Hearts of Oak they would have trailed in terms of head to head, so they threw in the towel in the latter part of the season.

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In the game itself Francis Couffie’s header from Harison Afful’s freekick in the 75 minute ended their long wait for a league victory in Accra against Hearts of Oak

Sunday 19th March, 2019

Hearts 1-0 Kotoko

Controversial penalty awarded against Asante Kotoko by referee Samuel Suker handed Vincent Atingah the opportunity to score a late minute goal.

The ball from replay seemingly struck Ahmed Adams back, yet referee Suker who awarded a penalty in favour of Hearts and it was expertly struck home by Vincent Atingah in added minutes.

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A video from the Anas Number 12 documentary in 2018 exposed Samuel Suker of collecting a goat to influence the game in Hearts’ favour.

It ended their eight seasons’ winless jinx in Accra against their sworn-rivals on matchday 8 of the 2017 Ghana Premier League

It was drama in the first five minutes of the game as continuously four Hearts of Oak players – Malik Akowuah, Alex Kouassi, Inusah Musah and Samuel Akurugu fell like leafs.

But Kotoko were dominant side, using the flanks to open Hearts of Oak defence. The away had the first chance in the game in the 8th minutes but Ahmed Adams headed wide Eric Donkor’s free-kick.

The Phobians managed to get into Kotoko box – Akowuah teed up Thomas Abbey but he fell down as he was looking for a penalty.

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The Porcupine Warriors rattled the cross bar from Michael Akuffu’s free-kick in the 13th minute, two minutes later Felix Annan from a long kick found Yakubu Mohammed but the bulky forward shot wide.

Akurugu denied Kotoko the first goal as he blocked Yakubu Mohammed’s point blank strike with one hand.

The Phobians began to warm themselves into the game as they kept passing the ball around but the Kotoko were resolute at the back.

Akurugu came to the rescue of Hearts of Oak again – Sarfo Gyamfi raced into Hearts of Oak goal area, he found Mohamed but his shot was neatly saved by the former Hasaacas shot stopper.

With five minutes to end the game, the Phobians kept the heat on Kotoko, as they pushed for the opener, but the away side kept their composure as they relied on counter-attack.

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From the recess, Hearts of Oak initiated their first attack – second half substitute Patrick Razak who came on for Daniel Kodie was thread through by Samudeen Ibrahim but the diminutive winger cross just couldn’t find his target.

Hearts of Oak kept Kotoko off balance with long balls, they relied on the pace of Razak – the latter kept Eric Donkor at bay.

The tempo of the game reduced drastically approaching the 70th minute mark. Both sides decided not push men forward but it was Hearts of Oak who were the dominant side.

Kotoko should have scored the first goal in the 71st minute, Mohammed was thread through by Donkor but with his weaker foot shot wide.

Moment later Baba Mahama who came on for Sarfo Gyamfi pushed Hearts of Oak back with his pace and skills.

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Felix Annan was called into action from the first time in the game as neatly saved Abbey’s half volley.

In the 83rd minute, Hearts of oak were handled a penalty after Ahmed Adams handled Samuel Yeboah shot in the box, Vincent Atingah stepped forward send Annan to the wrong way to put the Phobians ahead.

After the goal, Kotoko put a lot of bodies forward trying to get the equalizer, but the Phobians held their guns to win the game.

Reach me via:

Twitter:@FreemanYeboa

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Face:Continental Thomas Freeman Yeboah

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