Hearts of Oak failed to make their numerical advantage count as they were held by 10-man Liberty Professionals during their week 17 Ghana Premier League (GPL) fixture.
The Phobians playing as the away team at their favourite Accra Sports Stadium home ground started as the brightest of the two sides, creating a pocket of chances n consequently registering the first shot on target through the in-form Cosmos Dauda, who hit a powerful low shot that hit the top right corner of Stephen Kwaku’s goal after he was brilliantly put through by the entertaining attacking midfielder, Razak Patrick.
The Scientific soccer lads immediately responded but Hearts were saved by the cross bar after Sarfo Samuel headed a corner kick straight towards Ebo Mends who saw his goal-bound header bounce off the crossbar.
Liberty Professionals, from then, dominated the game as Hearts were forced to clear their lines with consistent pressure from George Lamptey’s boys.
Caretaker coach of Hearts, Sergio Traguil, who was managing his first official game since his appoitnment, was animated in his technical area throughout the game urging his men forward for the first goal of the game.
The instructions paid-off as the man of the moment, Cosmos ‘Neymar’ Dauda, from a counter-attack, was played through by Samudeen Ibrahim and with a sweet first touch, easily skipped past Anthony Nimo and shot with his left foot into the right corner of Stephen Kwaku’s goal to give the Phobians the lead in the 34th minute.
Dauda nearly got his second of the game after picking up a loose ball and just 13-yards from goal,blasted his effort wide off the target as Hearts took a one goal lead into half time.
Hearts fans applauded the team, after referee Awal Mohammed blew his whistle, in acknowledgement of Sergio Traguil’s promise of a Barcelona-esque style of play known as ‘tiki-taka’ on display.
Liberty Professionals, with just five minutes into the second half, got the equaliser from a Latif Blessing assist; a sweet pass from him that found Bernard Arthur in the midst of two Hearts of Oak defenders, who gently tapped into the net to get the home side the equalising goal. The nimble-footed Blessing nearly made it two for Liberty after he skied a lovely cross from Richard Antwi with him unmarked from 12-yards to Samuel Akrugu’s goal.
From then, Liberty appeared to be the hungrier of the two, trying to get the second goal but huffed and puffed to no avail as they had to finish the final 20 minutes of the game with 10-men after Bernard Arthur was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Robin Gnagne.
Pic Credit: Senyuiedzorm A. Adadevoh
GPL Match Report: Hearts Fail to Beat 10-man Liberty
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