Kumasi Asante Kotoko had promised they would humiliate arch-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak by a whopping 5-0 yesterday as the icing on their third consecutive league triumph.
But the Phobians stormed the Baba Yara Stadium and held Kotoko to a scoreless draw in their penultimate league clash which saw the coronation of the Porcupine Warriors as First Capital Plus Premier League champions without much fanfare.
Indeed, Kotoko’s fans thronged the in their numbers not only to witness the presentation of the league trophy but also to witness their much-publicised payback time declared by acting Kotoko CEO, Samuel Opoku Nti.
And when the dream fizzled out, the fans understandably began to leave the stadium before the formal trophy presentation was made by FA Executive Committee member, George Afriyie, PLB boss, Welbeck Abra-Appiah, and other officials of the league sponsors.
But Hearts were lucky to end the match unscathed despite injuries suffered by their two key defenders necessitating series of hold-ups and a brief downpour as overambitious Kotoko run out of ideas at some point.
The key architect to Hearts’ survival was goalkeeper Tetteh Luggard, who made series of dramatic saves from the eighth minute and was the toast of the fans.
As the game warmed up, it was reduced to a battle between Kotoko’s attack and goalkeeper Luggard whose superlative performance frustrated striker Seidu Bancey and his attacking colleagues.
Tragedy hit Hearts before half time when pillar in defence, Robin Gnagne, was stretchered off into an ambulance after a clash of heads with Kotoko's Aziz Yusif. He was replaced by Philip Boampong, who later give way to Gerald Odupong after suffering a similar fate.
