Soccer News of Monday, 21 April 2003

Source: .

Faisal pip Hearts

Kumasi King Faisal on Sunday defeated this CAF Champions league campaigners, Hearts of Oak, in a special friendly encounter played at the nations Wembley, Accra.

The match dubbed "The Herbert Mensah challenge match" an initiative of the former Kotoko Chief Executive saw the Alhaji Karim Grusah's boys playing a more fluent and cohesive game in most of the 90 minutes game.

Though the Phobians had dominated play in the first quarter of the game it was Faisal Abubaker Yahuzu who taught them how to take chances when he scored what might perhaps be viewed as their clearest chance in the 17th minute.

Abubaker who had picked a lose and harmless ball as a result of poor defending by the Hearts defence slot home the opener with Hearts third choice goalkeeper Muhammed Saani completely helpless in post. The game, which became ragged and rough resumed the second half with a similar pattern.

Both teams struggled to change the score line of the game but to no avail. Not even when Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour came on for unimpressive Ibrahim Kluvi could tilt the clock in Hearts favour. As if destiny wanted the rainbows to lose the game, goal bound shots by both Bortey and Kuffour were cleared off the line by Faisal defenders in the last five minutes of the game.