Star Premier league 19th Week

Kotoko Beat Hearts
The Kumasi Sports Stadium was the scene of wild jubilation by supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko as their idol club scored an emphatic 2-0 victory over their archrivals, Accra Hearts of Oak in the epic match.

The teeming supporters broke into prolonged cheers and jubilation as referee I. Alhassan of Tamale whistled for the end of the titanic match and the loud speakers at the stadium blared the popular hit "Awurade Kasa" by Cindy Thompson.

The elated crowd cheered and chanted Kotoko songs as they hugged each other after Kotoko has scored the spectacular victory, which broke the chain of defeats at the hands of Hearts.

The victory was also a sweet revenge for Kotoko whose 1-2 defeat by Hearts in the mid-week match at the Accra sports stadium caused the May 9 mayhem in which 126 soccer fans died.

Security for the match was tight with the military and the police forming a cordon around the inner perimeter with others in the stands and some with truncheons and wearing helmet and looking to the crowd.

Kotoko entered the field at 2.25 pm in their red attire and the crowd cheered as they jogged around and did light training and five minutes later, Hearts players also appeared on the field to warm up.

The match got off to a brisk start after a minute's silence has been observed for victims of the May 9 disaster and the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

Hearts forced the first corner-kick of the match in the fifth minute as Kotoko who looked unsettled failed to stop a move with a defender pushing the ball over the line.

Kotoko counter-attacked earning the first of their 11 corner-kicks of the match in the 11th minute and two minutes later, speedster Michael Osei on a good run outpaced the Hearts defence but shot over the bar.

Kotoko continued to have the edge in the attack as they forced corner-kicks in the 15th, 17th, 22nd and 24th minutes as Hearts were forced into the defensive but could not utilise any of them.

Dan Acquah of Kotoko attracted the yellow card in the 26th minute for a foul and four minutes later, Hearts inspirer Osei Kuffuor had to visit the touchline for treatment from a hard knock.

Rampaging Kotoko whose attacking machinery was in full gear, forced three successive corner-kicks in the 31st, 32nd, 33rd minutes as Hearts struggled to keep pace with the game. With Hearts deadly strikers Ishmael Addo, Charles Taylor and Osei Kuffuor played out of the game, Kotoko played the game at their own pace as the teeming crowd cheered every move.

Skipper Godwin Ablordey who captained Kotoko meandered his way through the Hearts defence in the 42nd minute but his curling shot missed the target.

Kotoko brought in Joe Okyere for Nana Frimpong at the re-start and this improved Kotoko's attacking machinery as they launched all out attack.

Hearts came close to scoring in the 55th minute when Osei Kuffuor's glancing header missed the post narrowly with goalkeeper Osei Boateng completely beaten.

Kotoko struck in the 65th minute as Aziz Ansah sliced through the Hearts defence and placed the ball in the path of Joe Okyere whose flicker beat goalkeeper Sammy Adjei who was glued to the ground.

Backed by cheers of the teeming supporters, Kotoko laid a siege on the goal area of Hearts who played on the defensive. This paid off in the 73rd minute when a 30-metre free-kick taken by diminutive Stephen Oduro nicknamed "Tico" curled into the net wide off goalkeeper Sammy Adjei in the 73rd minute.

The stadium was electrified as the chanting supporters drummed and sang almost shaking the stadium to its foundation. Hearts appeared to have given up the fight as the players offered little or no opposition with Kotoko forming circles and passing the ball among themselves to which the crowd cheered.

By this victory, Kotoko has not only maintained their unbeaten home record but also of not having conceded a goal at home in the on-going league.

Bofoakwa hold Olympics in Accra
Bottom club, Accra Great Olympics failed to lift themselves up from their precarious position on the Star Premier League table when they were held to a one all drawn game at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The match played before an empty stadium apparently because fans had moved to the Kumasi Sports Stadium where the country's two most glamorous clubs- Kotoko and Hearts clashed in their epic encounter.

The visitors opened the score with a ninth minute strike by William Agyepong but their joy was short-lived as J. B. Danquah pulled the equaliser for Olympics two minutes later.

In-spite of his magnificent goal, J.B. Danquah caused his team a great deal, as he wasted glaring chances for Olympics.

Olympics had a second half goal disallowed after an apparent off side positioning by Fatawu Barns.

Still at the Accra Sports Stadium, Liberty Professionals on Saturday lost by a lone goal to visiting Kwaebibirem United. Nuhu Mohammed scored the only goal of the match, in the 70th minute through a header.

Ghapoha draws at Obuasi

RTU whitewash Okwawu