Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Real Tamale United (RTU) recorded a historic lo= ne goal victory over troubled Accra Hearts of Oak at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra on Sunday. It was the first victory to be recorded by the Club over the Phobians i= n Accra since they joined the elite League 32 years ago.

The victory served as a double victory by the 91Pride of the North' over the Phobians after they hammered them 2-1 in the first round of the League sending the large army of Hearts supporters into a state of agony, whilst venting their spleen on referee Samuel K. Gyasi and his men, as well as their coach, Paa Kwesi Fabian.

RTU indicated their determination to rewrite history right from the onset as they outrun the lethargic Phobians in the first half, creating som= e few scoring chances, but failing to utilize them.

Hearts on the day were, however, no better than the side that played i= n the first round of the League, despite the inclusion of Mahatma Otoo and Kamil Osman, who returned from Tunisia and Denmark respectively after unsuccessful stints as they struggled to contain the lads from the north. The half ended on a barren note, as it created the opportunity for bot= h sides to reorganize themselves for the second half.

It was Hearts who returned as an organized side in the second half, with Otoo improving upon his output as he tormented the visitors in the early parts of the game, with his deep runs but uncharacteristically of him= , he failed to utilize any of the chances, and it was clear that lack of inactivity has affected his performance.

Unable to make use of the chances created in the early parts of the game, RTU converted the clearest scoring opportunity in the game when Sumaila Nyaya, was on hand to sneak through the Hearts defenders to connect a swift cross from Owusu Bempah in the 59th minute.

Even though the goal brought some amount of urgency in Hearts play, it was not enough to fetch them the equalizer or pick the three maximum points at stake as the visitors stuck to their game plan and kept Hearts at bay. Sensing defeat in the face, Hearts launched series of ferocious attack= s on RTU and created melee in their goal area on several occasions but John Antwi, Obed Ansah and Otoo, were always found wanting when it was time to covert the scoring chances.

Not even the five minutes of added time was enough for Hearts to make amends or salvage a point in the match as they had to swallow the bitter pill of defeat. RTU, who have been wallowing in the relegation zone since the commencement of the League seem to be on the revival path as they have move= d one place from the bottom, with Hearts sinking further in a League they onc= e dominated for six consecutive years.