Accra (Greater Accra) 10 March 2003 - Kumasi Asante Kotoko were in
supreme form this afternoon beating arch rivals Accra Hearts by two goals to
nil courtesy well taken goals by in-form striker Isaac Boakye and midfielder
Stephen Oduro.
Kotoko were by far the better side and Hearts would feel lucky they
left the Kumasi Stadium with just a 0-2 deficit and nothing more. The Porcupine
Warriors were always in with a chance of winning this game but few could have
predicted the ease with which the victory came.
As early as the first minute, the Phobians were left off the hook after
Michael Osei failed to make the most of a defensive mis clearance by Kwabena
Boafo. Ironically, Kotoko scored from what couldn’t really be labelled good
chances. Boakye’s goal came after four minutes.
He got the better of the experienced but largely ineffective Princeton
Owusu Ansah, beat another Hearts of Oak defender before releasing a sweet left
foot shot that flew past Hearts goalkeeper James Nanor. Then on twenty-four
minutes, Stephen Oduro scored an intelligent goal that would further underline
his status as one of the finest players in the country.
Princeton Owusu Ansah again lost control of the ball in midfield but instead
of closing him down, the Hearts midfield and defence made the greatest mistake
you can ever make when playing against a player of Oduro’s intelligence: allow
him too much space.
Oduro said thank you by first lifting the ball over the head of new Hearts player Emmanuel Osei, moving into empty space before cheekily placing the ball beyond the reach of Nanor.
Hearts’ best chance in the first half came in the closing stages of the
first half when Charles Taylor back from trials in Switzerland played a one-two
with Emmanuel Osei Kuffour before releasing a fine volley that was expertly
saved by Kotoko goalkeeper Louis Quainoo.
Kotoko coach Abdul Razak who led Malian side Stade Malien to eliminate
Hearts from the first round of last year’s CAF Champions League was elated by
the victory in what he calls ''another game''.
The Kotoko playing legend said: ''I proved to Hearts that I am capable
of beating them. For us this was just another game and it was very very good
that we beat Hearts. We would tackle the rest of our LG Top 4 games like every
other game and see what happens''.
The victory hands Kotoko the lead in the LG Top 4 with nine maximum
points from three games. Hearts are second with six points with Liberty third
after their 4-0 whitewash of Great Olympics on Saturday.
Kotoko: L. Quianoo Aziz Ansah Godfred Yeboah Dan Acquah Joe Hendricks
Mike Asante Stephen Oduro (83' Kwame Adjaba) Chibsta Isaac Boakye (83' Shilla)
Edmond Owusu Ansah Michael Osei.
Hearts: Nannor, Dan Quaye, P. Klutsu, Dan Oppong K. Boafo Prince, Owusu
Ansah, Don Bortey, Copson (Turkson), Emmanuel Osei Kuffour (Wisdom Abbey),
Emmanuel Osei (A. Tetteh), Charles Taylor.
GRi…/
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