Top 5 Hearts v Kotoko GPL Matches

If history has no effect in what happens around homo sapiens across the globe, then football old days is zillions of miles deeper with no emotional attachments.

The orgasm of reminiscing the days of the ‘dribbling magician’ Mohammed Polo and Abdul Razak (Golden Boy), down to Dong Bortey and Eric Bekoe is one which draws chains of either joy or sorrow down the cheeks of football-loving fans in Ghana.

The best sporting spectacle in Ghana football is to live and see 90 minutes of football between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.

It is a game that goes beyond 20 men chasing the spherical object called football, and attempting to hit past stationary men in the post.

Another Hearts of Oak clash against Asante Kotoko is nigh, and Sportscrusader.com takes a look at five memorable games between the two teams in the Premier League era.

ASANTE KOTOKO 3:3 HEARTS OF OAK. (1995-96).

When Ghana domestic football was promoted to premier, the first premier league clash between the two sides ended in a zero-all stalemate.

Two years later, former Black Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah made history in a game that will dance ‘agbadza’ in the minds of faithfuls of the two teams In Ghana.

The Porcupine Warriors had taken a two goal lead, but the then 16-year-old bagged a brace Accra to earn Hearts a draw in the game. Anthony Teiku turned the game on its head, but the Porcupine spirit was dampened as they drew parity before regulations time.

Hearts 3-1 KOTOKO (January 7, 2006-7)

The glamour and rivalry on this day shifted to Ghana’s birthplace of football, Cape Coast, due to Ghana’s preparations to host the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. Hearts had gifted their fans the perfect Christmas present when they beat Kotoko away from home a fortnight earlier 1-0 at that same venue. It was time for Kotoko to mollify their fans with a New Year present. Eric Gawu and Dong Bortey scored to give Hearts a 2-0 lead in the first half. Obeng Darko reduced the deficit after the break, but Alfred Nii Larbie restored the two-goal cushion and the final nail in the Kotoko coffin. Hearts had done the double over their rivals.

KOTOKO 3-3 HEARTS (May 24, 2007-8)

Eric Bekoe, now with Sekondi Hasaacas, scored super goals that propelled Kotoko to win the league title. He ended the season with the Golden boot accolade

Coach Bashiru Hayford’s all conquering team spearheaded by the free-scoring Eric Bekoe had come up against a very diffident Hearts team. Murmurs of 6-0 had serenaded the Garden City before kick-off.

The boys in red had promised their fans it was time to avenge the 4-0 mortification suffered at the hands of the “64 battalion”. When Kojo Poku opened the scoring in less than a quarter past the first half, the dream had seemed possible, the revenge mission was back on, and the delighted Fabulous fans urged the team forward. Forward they kept pouring till Bernard Dong Bortey – master of the Kotoko-Hearts game – silenced the home crowd with the Phobians’ equaliser.

Kotoko had lost their way, the panache exhibited in the early minutes had dissipated the Reds and to compound their ephemeral misery, Ekow Ghansah shot Hearts ahead when Kotoko pushed men forward. Eric Bekoe made it 2-2. Kotoko still celebrating after the goal were shot down again when Francis Bossman’s well-struck free-kick beat the motionless Soulama Abdulaye (who is now with Hearts of Oak) to make it 3-2.

The magical Oduro made it 3-3 with a strike on the edge of the penalty box seven minutes into the second half making it six goals in less than 60 minutes, and neither side could score again.

HEARTS 0-1 KOTOKO (June 14, 2009-10)

Hearts had earlier in the season broken a 10-year jinx in Kumasi when they won comfortably against the Porcupine Warriors. Kotoko had gone close to 17 years without victory in Accra. The match began with either side cautious resulting in a dull but colorful first half.

The fear of that painful defeat had inhibited Kotoko; the pride of that win had made Hearts complacent. With less than 20 minutes to go, captain Hassan Mohammed became the villain of the game when he gave away a needless free-kick close to the 18-yard box. Harrison Afful picked out Francis Coffie’s head in the crowd.

HEARTS 0-2 KOTOKO (March 20, 2010-11)

The fans were queuing for tickets. The match had begun. There were struggles at the gates. Suddenly, bellows of goal, goal, and goooooooal filled the atmosphere. Who had scored? Hearts, of course. No, Kotoko. What? A few Hearts fans jubilated, so did a thousand Kotoko fans inside the stadium. Ahmed Toure had drawn the first blood – Kotoko were a goal up. Fans were still struggling to make it into the Ohene-Djan Stadium.

Another deafening shout came through – a goal had been scored. By the time a few of the Hearts fans had seated, the match was effectively over. Kotoko’s supremacy was way too clear. A big match had become a mismatch. The Reds carried the day and all the three points. The bragging rights, was primary.

Top 5 Hearts v Kotoko GPL Matches