Champions Kumasi Asante Kotoko continued their impressive start to the season as they held off arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak to win their Premier League super clash 1-0 at the Accra Stadium yesterday.
Striker Seidu Bancey's firm drive from 25 metres produced the game's magic moment, the 32nd minute delivery proving equal to the assist from man-of-the-match, Yahaya Mohammed, as the Porcupine Warriors stretched their unbeaten run against Hearts in Accra into a fourth year.
In response, Hearts' winger Thomas Abbey scrambled a shot against the post 10 minutes from time, but the drama in the tie laid in the manner of drills with which the police shuffled personnel on duty as they worked to contain the capacity crowd at the 40,500 all-seater stadium.
It was Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani's first win over his Hearts counterpart, David Duncan, since the pair assumed the reins of the country's traditional giants, but both of last season's goalless draw in Kumasi and 1-1 in Accra had produced thrillers.
This time around, it was Kotoko's experience that proved vital against the sometimes jittery performance of the Phobian squad, many of them apologies of the talent that have graced Ghana football's biggest rivalry over the years.
Striking pair, Selasie Adjei and Romeo Agban, existed more in name and presence rather than real talent or threat, and the fact that Adiei lasted just 41 minutes and Agban 47 minutes was testament of how much they had disappointed the faith reposed in them by Coach Duncan.
On the opposite end, Kotoko found an important star in Yahaya Mohammed who seemed very comfortable as head striker, a role that brought him honour and fame during his loan spell at Amidaus Professionals last season.
If Hearts rue their inability to secure the rasta-haired versatile player — who has featured in defence and then mid field in a career that has covered both African and European territories — when he looked certain to leave Kotoko last season, they were in to experience the impact as he became the one-man headache to the central defence pair of Kweku Andoh and Ivorian import Reuben Gnagne.
Displaying greater technical competence, Kotoko showed promise with their passing game, and Bancey glanced a header which tested Luggard in the fifth minute.
But Hearts settled and offered to compete in midfield where Coach Duncan had deployed defender Nuru Sulley as his link man.
While Sulley's huge frame gave Hearts great presence in the middle, his lack of mobility relative to the easy movement of Jordan Opoku and Michael Akuffu countered the plot.
It was Hearts who seemed likely to score, however, when they opened early chances that Agban and Adjei took turns to waste, while Gabriel Darko blasted over and wide when he contrived an opening from the right.
Kotoko looked well composed all the while, but their play hardly threatened until Mohammed trapped a pass from midfield and left the way for Bancey to drive home.
Hearts: Tetteh Luggard, Kweku Andoh, Abrazziz Abankwah, Reuben Gnagne, Nuru Sulley, Gabriel Darko/Sampson Cudjoe, Winful Cobbinah, Selasie Adiei/Eric Kumi, Romeo Agban/Gilbert Fiamenyo, Thomas Abbey
Kotoko: Isaac Amoako, Bobie Ansah, Kwabena Adusei, Eric Donkor, Abeiku Ainooson, Michael Akuffu, Richard Mpong, Jordan Opoku, Yahaya Mohammed, Seidu Bancey, Chriss Bonny.
Story by Michael Quaye
Graphic Sports/graphic.com.gh/Ghana
