MTN FA Cup thrills: Hearts face Utrecht in tricky duel
Accra Hearts of Oak will use tomorrow’s MTN FA Cup quarter-final home duel against Tamale Utrecht as a dress rehearsal for next week Sunday’s crucial continental clash with Esperance of Tunisia.
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Hearts have a 0-4 deficit to clear against the Tunisian giants next weekend and would want to use Utrecht as a sacrificial lamb for that highly-anticipated miracle.
Before booking a date with the Division One side at last Tuesday’s draw in Takoradi, the Phobians first had to call the bluff of Elmina Sharks, Bolga Man City and Afienya City in the previous rounds.
Utrecht, on the other hand, advanced to this stage by shocking premiership sides Bechem United and B.A. United, before adding Division two side Starke FC to their list of victims.
In view of the postponement of three Round of 16 matches, the FA Cup Committee has fixed Wednesday, June 3, 2015 for these matches to be honoured.
The impressive record of Utrecht so far should be enough warning for Hearts to avoid complacency since an upset in front of their home fans throw their Confederation Cup aspirations out of gear.
Meanwhile, the three remaining last eight games have been put on hold until the determination of three outstanding Round of 16 games on Wednesday.
At the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium on Wednesday, Ashantigold will play host to Inter Allies, while Asante Kotoko and Real Tamale United battle it out in Kumasi, with Great Astronomers, who kicked out Berekum Chelsea, clashing with Medeama in Cape Coast.
Also, the winner of the Round of 16 match between Aduana Stars and Istanbul, which ended abruptly at Dormaa- Ahenkro last Sunday following an assault on referee Patrick Kyeremanteng by Istanbul player Henry Amenyo, will face Eleven Wise.
