Hearts trounce visiting All Stars
Accra Hearts of Oak SC trounced Wa All Stars 3-0 in their eighth week Premier League game at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra on Sunday.
After suffering series of unpleasant results in recent times as well as an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the same side last season at the same venue, Hearts were out in full force and were not in the mood to suffer a similar fate.
The Phobians announced their intention to carry the day early in the game with quick inter-positional passes that saw Uriah Asante delivering a spectacular goal from the edge of the box in the 8th minute.
Asante who was well placed at the edge of the vital area, pounced on Theophilus Apoh’s header to deliver a bending mid-volley into the net receiving a simultaneous and thunderous applause from the fans. All Stars responded quickly but were cut shot in their tracks allowing Hearts to resume their attack with another search for the second goal, which rightly came their way in the 19th minute.
The goal came about when Hearts’ Wilson Andoh picked the ball and raced into the opponents’ area and laid a subsequent accurate cross on the path of Douglas Nkrumah, who wasted no time by tapping in the cross for the second goal, which keeper Robert Dabou of All Stars failed to make a first time save.
Hearts hanged on to the two goals even though All Stars’ Seidu Zida was well placed to reduce the tally after applying his head to a Nathaniel Asamoah’s cross, but keeper Sammy Adjei was alert to deny the visitors any goal or opportunity in the 36th minute.
The home side could have increased the tally before the close of the first half from the foot of Samuel Ayisi, but he surprisingly blasted off with the keeper at his mercy after a cross was laid on his path by Asante and for his side to remain in an advantageous position after the first half.
The second half saw little approach from the two teams at goal, with most of the action concentrated in the midfield but it was All Stars who dominated proceedings but failed to break down the Hearts defence.
It was, however, Hearts who made another clear attempt at goal in the 67th minute but Andoh failed to connect substitute Edwin Osei Pele’s cross, whilst Zida’s goal bound shot was scooped out of the danger spot by Hearts dependable Bobbie Ansah.
Two goal bound efforts later from Hearts saw Apoh’s long volley hitting the cross bar in the 78th minute with the keeper stranded before Osei’s non-drop thunderbolt of a shot fetched the third and final goal for Hearts.
Osei capitalized on a loose set up by All Stars defender Asante to race deep into the goal area before delivering a surprise shot that went past keeper Dabu who had little answer from stopping the ball from entering his shot to the applause of the fanatic supporters.
Hearts from then established their authority on the visitors but were unsuccessful in finding another goal.
The victory seems to have come at a perfect moment for the Phobians, as it serves as a morale booster for them ahead of their epic clash against their arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, next Sunday.
Source: GNA