Accra Hearts of Oak pip King Faisal

Accra, Sept. 5, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak started the 2010/11 premiership on a good note when they chalked a lone goal victory over Kumasi King Faisal at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. It was a match of equals as the two sides battled for supremacy in midfield, with each side failing to make the needed penetration into each others half.

Hearts, however, managed to make a break-through in the 24th minute, when Edwin Osei "Pele" benefited from a rebound to put Hearts into the lead.

Pele benefited from a through ball from Tetteh Nortey in midfield, after Abdul Bashiru laid a perfect cross on the path of Uriah Asante but his kick saw Faisal's keeper Ibrahim Idrissu failing to make a first time save for Pele to tap in the ball for the only goal of the match. Faisal responded with a swift attack with Emmanuel Odoi proving a thorn and creating anxious moments for the Hearts defence but his colleagues upfront were unable to make the needed conversions. Hearts held on to the lead till the close of the first half. The Faisal lads in the second half were more dominant and created some decent chances which fell the path of Micky Ofosu and Prince Papa Arko, but the opportunities were blown off in the 68th and 69th minutes. Hearts on the other hand nearly made it two when Pele combined effectively with Obed Ansah to lay a perfect pass on the path of substitute Abraham Annan, but he surprisingly fired off target in the 81st minute.

Pele again raided the area of Faisal in the 85th minute but failed to put the finishing touch to increase the tally for his side. The general trend of play however remained balanced with Faisal's Peter Oduro Kwarteng missing a chance in the latter stages of the game and to crown the day on a bad note for picking second yellow card. Hearts could, however, not take advantage of the situation but managed to hold on to their thin lead till the close of the entire proceedings in a match handled by referee Cecil Fletcher of Takoradi. 05 Sept. 10