Accra Hearts of Oak completed their 2024 with a hard fought win against City neighbors Accra Lions in the Ghana Premier League round of fifteen at the WAFA Park in Sogakope.
Both teams started slowly keeping the ball to themselves when in possession just to find the openings at each other’s defense as it depicted the tactical instructions from Hearts of Oak’s Ouattara and Lion’s Ibrahim Tanko.
Saani Mohammed delivered a beautiful cross into the box of the opponent and a timely header from Hussein to put Hearts of Oak ahead in the 35th minute.
Abubakar Ouattara’s men grew in confidence after the goal looking for the second but Accra Lions remained resolute.
Lions would keep the ball better to themselves for large part of the game but not clinical enough to pull parity before the break.
The second half saw an improved Accra Lions who created a lot of problems for Hearts’ defence as a well-worked build up ended up with substitute Lucky Nwafor slotting home for the equalizer just eight minutes into the half.
Ibrahim Tanko would make changes after drawing parity over loading his opponent in the midfield.
Such tactical substitutions paid off as for the first time in the game, Accra Lions would go up after Ezekiel Alladoh scored in the 73rd minute in what looked to be a potential win for the home side.
Out of nothing second half substitute Mawuli Wayo fired a shot from outside the box to bring Hearts of Oak to level pegging just seven minutes later to keep hopes of victory alive for the Rainbow boys.
A long ball from defender Kelvin Osei Asibey into Lions’ goal area found Wayo and headed the ball over on rushing goalkeeper to register his brace and Hearts of Oak’s third to seal it 3-2 for the afternoon.
This is the fourth away win for the Phobians having won Young Apostles, Medeama and Karela United in the earlier rounds of the season scoring eight goals in the said matches and conceded only three in the process.
Broadening the analysis, today’s victory puts Hearts wins to seven thus far this season amassing twenty-five points with some fifteen goals in all and have allowed in ten goals and places sixth going into next year 2025.
Ibrahim Tanko and his charges have been very poor all season long picking just two wins from fifteen games—a 3-1 win against Nsoatreman FC in September and 1-0 against Nations FC on December 14.
They lie in the relegation zone with a handful thirteen points alongside Dreams FC and Legon Cities who face Accra Hearts of Oak on January 3, 2025.
Elsewhere, Karela United dropped points at home after drawing 1-1 with Vision FC.
Joshua Kwame Rhule scored for the visitors on the stroke of half time before Jibril Nurudeen pulled parity in the 80th minute.
The stalemate is a vital boost for Vision FC as they continue their push in the Premier League in their debut campaign.
Emmanuel Annor scored on his debut for Nations FC in their 1-1 draw at FC Samartex 1996.
Annor, who joined the side last week scored the equaliser after Emmanuel Adjei had put the Timber giants in front at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.
Nations FC lie in fourth while the defending champions find themselves in the 9th position.
Dreams FC picked a valuable point on the road after sharing the spoils with Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park.
The two teams with contrasting fortunes put up decent show but failed to break the other. Chelsea lie 8th with 19 points while Dreams FC remain in the bottom three.
