Struggling Hearts beat All Blacks

Accra, June 8, GNA - Struggling Accra Hearts of Oak managed a 2-1 win over Gamba All Blacks of Swedru to keep their premiership survival mission on course.

Stephen Offei and Ekow Ghansah scored in each half to ensure All Blacks Obed Owusu's late strike did not stop the Phobians from grabbing all three points as they have laboured all season to find their form. The visitors started very well and pushed Hearts defence to the reverse gear on many occasions in the earlier moments of the match. Hearts managed to come into the picture after nine minutes but Bernard Don Bortey surprisingly missed from a close range when All Black's goalkeeper Shaibu Salifu was committed. All Blacks was to respond with a counter that placed Wilson Andoh in a fine position to grab the lead but the player left Hearts off the hook.

Hearts accepted the challenge and got close to scoring when Eric Gawu was brought flying in the visitor's penalty area for a penalty on the 16th minute mark but Bortey's effort was well dealt with by goalkeeper Salifu to set the stadium alive in a manner that signaled that the losers enjoyed better support than their host in the arena. Offei however shot Hearts ahead eight minutes after the half hour mark with a tap at goal from a Bortey's cunning curly free-kick from the left flank.

Both teams resumed the second period in search of goals but it was Hearts who consolidated their lead on the 76th minute through Ghansah from the spot in a decision that was socked in controversy. Advancing Raphael Obeng appeared fouled in the penalty area for referee Ali Musah Plato to reward Hearts with a spot kick. With the game coasting to conclusion, All Blacks Owusu made use of a mix up in the Hearts defence to pull a goal back in injury time.