Accra Hearts of Oak dropped deep into the relegation zone of the First Capital Plus Premier (FCPL) after losing 2-1 to arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the 25th week league game at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Hearts now occupy the 14th position of the league and will have to win the remaining five matches to avoid relegation.

With so much at stake for both sides, Kotoko dominated the game in the first ten minutes and created some descent chances but were unable to convert them.

Hearts came back strongly in the 19th minute and moved into the defence of Kotoko which saw Isaac Oduro brought down for referee Yaw Ametepe to point to the penalty spot.

Players of Kotoko protested vehemently and this held play for close to three minutes before resumption.

Skipper Robin Gnagne saw his penalty saved by Ofori Antwi to keep the scores unchanged.

Kotoko, resume their dominance of the game and fetched the opener in the 25th minute when skipper Amos Frimpong headed home from a corner kick by Eric Donkor.

Kotoko could have increased the tally in the 45th minute, when they initiated a swift counter attack but Donkor messed up the opportunity to end the first half.

Though Kotoko dominated the early stages of the second half, Hearts benefited after equalising in the 59th minute.

Defender Inusah Musah’s header from Gnagne free-kick dropped into the net for the much needed equaliser.

After the equaliser it was an end-to-end game with both sides struggling to grab the winner.

Kotoko managed to take the lead in the 79th minute when the Hearts defence failed to deal with melee with Dauda Mohamed lurking around and had no difficulty in directing the ball into the net for the winner.

Kotoko have now moved to the 8th position and comfortably out of the relegation.