Hearts clinch GHALCA Top Four title in grand style

Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak cruised to their third GHALCA Top Four title in grand style with a lone goal victory over Ashgold on Sunday at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra.

New recruit Yufa Zuga was the hero for the Phobians scoring the match winner in the closing stages of the game from a scrambled scene in the Ashgold half to give the Accra Lads their first silverware before the opening of the soccer season.

Both sides treated fans to arguably the most exciting game of the sponsor-less tournament, which also attracted the biggest crowd of the competition. Ashgold started the game on high note with surging runs into the half of the Phobians' whose attack was rendered blunt with the absence of striker Edwin Osei 'Pele'.

Hearts responded positively but failed to utilize a few chances and from then they could not make any meaningful impact in front of goal despite having the better of the exchanges. The second half was equally a ding-dong affair with Ashgold slightly on top with their inter-positional passes but found the Hearts defence ably supported by goalie Sammy Adjei too difficult to beat. With the game almost certain for a draw, Zuga capitalised on a blunder by Ashgold goalie Fatau Dauda to slot in the match winner. Dauda surprisingly failed to make a firm grab of Samuel Ayisi's long range effort on the goal line thus allowing Zuga to slot home from a goal mouth action.

At the end of the match, Hearts captain Tetteh Nortey received the trophy from GHALCA Chairman, Emmanuel Adotey amidst chants from the Hearts faithful fans after the Ashgold players and officials had walked off the pitch after the final whistle.

Hearts have thus become the first cCub to win the annual competition incepted in 2001 on three occasions. Kpando Heart of Lions and Kumasi Asante Kotoko have both won the tournament twice.