... inch closer to league title
Accra, April 14, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak's double strike over Kpando Heart of Lions on Saturday wrapped up this year's Premiership for the former African champions with two games to end the season. The Phobians scored once in each half to stretch their lead on the league summit to seven and beyond the reach of closest rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Hearts of Oak are now on 55 points, while Kotoko remain on 48 after losing 1-2 to Hasaacas at Sunyani.
Hearts, whose performance has taken a nosedive in recent times went ahead in the tenth minutes from the penalty spot, courtesy Stanley Afedzie after advancing Ekow Ghansah was upended in the visitors' defence. Lions, who dominated play, took charge after the goal and made spectators believe that an equalizer was imminent with every move, but their efforts lacked the cutting edge to punish the rather lousy Hearts rearguards. Hearts of Oak resumed from recess a better side and almost doubled their lead ten minutes into the half when Afedzie' well-taken free-kick missed the target narrowly. Then came Lions' Sadat Bukari. After tearing the Hearts defence into shreds, over elaboration took the better of him, as he allowed a retreating Eric Gawu to steal the ball from him.Gawu threaded the ball to Ghansah, who raced with it on the left flank, from deep inside his own half, avoiding stern challenges from the Heart of Lions defenders before coming face to face with advancing goalkeeper Stephen Ahorlu.
Ghansah squeezed the ball past the goalkeeper near the far post and into the net to give Hearts of Oak the second goal and an unassailable lead in the Onetouch Premiership with two matches to end the season.