Hearts goalkeeper Ayi in tears as Kotoko beat Phobians in Kumasi
By Daniel ODURO, Accra
Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Richmond Ayi was inconsolable after his clumsy mistake contributed to a hand Asante Kotoko 3 precious points in the Ghana Premier League.
Ayi had a game to forget as his calamitous mistakes helped Asante Kotoko clinched a nail-biting 3-2 victory against Hearts of Oak in a riveting Super Clash on Sunday.
The victory was Kotoko’s first triumph of the season at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
The clash, moved to Kumasi due to scheduling conflicts at the Accra Sports Stadium, provided a spectacle for fans, with Kotoko staging a remarkable comeback that had the fans on the edge of their seats.
Preceding the kickoff, moments of confusion ensued as Hearts of Oak fans contested the entrance order, and there was a brief disturbance when some Hearts of Oak players ventured into the Kotoko section during warm-up. However, order was eventually restored.
The game kicked off with high intensity, featuring a missed opportunity by Linda Mtange and a subsequent brilliant header by Mtange in the 37th minute, giving Hearts of Oak the lead. Isaac Oppong leveled the score for Kotoko just before halftime
Kotoko surged ahead in the second half with goals from Steven Mukwala, securing a rebound after an offside controversy, and a composed finish after intercepting a back pass. Although Hearts of Oak’s Martin Karikari scored a late second goal, Kotoko held on for a crucial victory.
This win marked Kotoko’s fifth consecutive triumph, solidifying their contention for the league title, trailing the top spot by four points. Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak faced their second successive defeat, trailing Kotoko by six points. Interim coach Rahim Bashiru may be under pressure, and the board could consider appointing a substantive coach to reverse the club’s fortunes.
