You are here: HomeSports2004 03 29Article 54910

Soccer News of Monday, 29 March 2004

Source: GNA

Hearts win farewell trophy

Accra, March 28, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak on Sunday defeated Power FC 2-0 to win a farewell cup match played in honour of Mr Fred Asante, immediate past Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium. The match was to show appreciation to the services of Mr. Asante who has gone on retirement after 40 years of dedicated services to the company.

The first half of the match however lacked the expected urgency and excitement even though both sides paraded their regular set of players. Both sides only came very close to scoring on some few occasions with Power failing to convert a scoring opportunity in the 5th minute whilst Lawrence Adjei of Hearts cross and subsequent rebound in the 16th minute all hit the cross bar on both occasions. These were the only exciting moments of the half as the rest of the minutes remained barren with the game mainly concentrated in the midfield as no clear-cut opportunities were created by any of the teams.

The absence of the vociferous followers of Hearts following the heavy defeat inflicted on them by Africa Sports of Cote d' Ivoire last Friday in an International Friendly match also had a toll on the game. Hearts on resumption, however, played a more improved game piling pressure on the electricity boys in search of the first goal, which eventually materialized in the 53rd minute. The gaol came after veteran striker, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour who was lurking around the six-yard box of Power FC put his head to a cross from Dan Quaye to beat keeper Cudjoe Addo. Power responded with a swift attack and succeeded in breaking the defence of Hearts with Charles Asamoah leading the onslaught but his cross was poorly connected.

The CAF Champions League campaigners never looked back from this stage and intensified their pressure on Power FC after Alfred Nii Larbi had come on for Frank Kornu but in the 59th minute, Osei Kuffour failed to connect an Ablade Morgan's cross. Power had to play the last 25 minutes of the game with ten men as Morgan was stamped in the stomach by keeper Addo in one the raids by the Heartys attackers in their vital area and was subsequently red carded by referee E.N. Agyei after brief consultations with his assistant one. The Technical bench of Power FC was therefore compelled to replace Sefa Boateng for reserve keeper Fredrick Armah.

The Phobians, on the other hand made two more substitutions by introducing Joe Ansah who has been recalled by Coach Ernst Middendorp from transfer and Wisdom Abbey for Francis Bossman and Morgan to take advantage of their numerical strength to increase the tally. This again came from the foot of Osei-Kuffour in the 76th minute when he tapped in a header from Nii Larbi after Agyei's cross had caused melee in the vital area of Power FC to seal their doom. The result of the match has therefore added another trophy to the wardrobe of Hearts in this season after they beat Accra Great Olympics last month to win the HIV/AIDS Challenge Cup.