Hearts beat Kotoko 3-1

Cape Coast, Jan.8, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak on Sunday confirmed their superiority over Kumasi Asante Kotoko by beating them 3-1 in their Premier League match played at the Robert Mensah stadium in a match characterized with series of hold ups.

It is recalled that Hearts of Oak beat Kotoko 1-0 during the first round of the league at the same venue.

Hearts of Oak scored the opener through Eric Gawu in the 40th minute after he collected a pass from Moses Andoh and went on to beat his marker before sending the ball into a yawing net. Hearts continued to probe for more goals and it came as no surprise when Don Bortey's shot was deflected into the net by defender John Cudjoe in the 44th minute.

Earlier in the 30th minute, referee Seidu Bomisson who handled the match, showed Kotoko's Ahmed Toure the red card for assaulting Hearts goalkeeper Laud Quartey.

Immediately the player was sent of the field, irate supporters of Kotoko threw bagged water sachets on Hearts goal keeper, of which some supporters of Hearts of Oak retaliated and the match was held up for some minutes.

It took the peace officers about 10 minutes to bring the situation under control.

Kotoko resumed the second half strongly and in the 65th minute, substitute Kwame Obeng Darko reduced the tally to 2-1 when he out-jumped his marker to head home past keeper Quartey. Hearts again came into the picture after the Kotoko goal and it came as no surprise when substitute Alfred Nii Larbi raised his side's goal tally to three in the 78th minute to seal the doom of Kotoko.