Hearts hold Kotoko
Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak brought back fond memories of old with the display of high performance as they drew 1-1 in their top liner of the 21st week fixture of the Premier League at the Baba Yara stadium yesterday.
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Kotoko, who came into the match as underdogs following their 1-4 annihilation at the hands of Dwarfs surprisingly shot ahead in the 17th minute to silence their critics.
Dimunitive Emmauel Gyamfi's powerful drive outside the penalty box was pushed on the path of lurking Kwame Boateng to slot in after the Hearts defenders were caught ball watching to stun the packed stadium.
Indeed, goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye could not be blamed for the 17th minute goal despite gifting his former club, Kotoko, with victory in their first meeting in Accra which ended 1-0 in favour of the Porcupine Warriors. He stretched his elastic limit to parry a surprise long drive by Gyimah but his defenders did not help him to clear his lines.
Hearts, who were in the driving seat before the goal, suddenly lost focus despite coming close a couple of times while Kotoko's confidence level soared with occasional attacks.
Gyimah, a former Wa All Stars player, became the tormentor-in-chief at the right flank as a visibly tired Dauda Mohammed, who was substituted in the second half, struggled to complement his colleague's effort upfront.
The Hearts fans, most of whom were at the Asokwa end of the stadium, had dwarfed the Kotoko home fans with their 'arose arose' chorus but went dead after the shocking, goal, while the once noisy Kotoko fans could not even believe they were leading.
But just when Kotoko took total control at the start of the second half. Hearts equalised against the run of play when stocky Patrick Razak latched onto a through ball to displace goalkeeper Ernest Sowah in the 51st minute.
The tempo of the match changed completely with each pressing for the match winner. But it was Hearts who should have fetched the winner but Paul Acquah hit the side netting while Razak missed the upright narrowly.
Again during time added on, stocky substitute striker, Musa Ibrahim, failed to slot in a long through ball as goalkeeper Sowah was on hand to thwart his effort.