Nsoatreman hold Hearts in Accra
Visiting Nsoatreman FC on Saturday held Accra Hearts of Oak to an exciting 1-1 drawn game in their Ghana Premier League Match Day 12 clash played under the lights at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon.
Both teams came with contrasting fortunes; while the Phobians had recorded three successive wins ahead of the clash, the Nsuatre side were winless in four consecutive games and have lost all their away games.
Having lost all four previous encounters since joining the elite league in 2022, Nsoatreman came as heavy underdogs and destined for what could be a fifth defeat.
However, Coach Yaw Preko, a former player of the Hearts, had other ideas to halt the losing trend against the Phobians.
Hearts dominated the early possession but a momentary loss of concentration granted the FA Cup champions the opportunity to strike as they took the lead in the 12th minute through Stephen Diyou.
Diyou blasted home the leader from inside the box, beating goalkeeper Benjamin Asare after a short corner.
It was the second chance for the visitors, having missed a close-edge chance in the second minute to take the lead.
The early sucker-punch did little to stop the marauding attacks of the Phobians in search of an equaliser.
Exactly four minutes after going down, Hearts fans found their singing voices when their midfielder, Salim Adams, smashed home a free kick from about 35 yards to beat Ferdinand Sabi Acquah in the post for Nsoatreman.
The game became even with end-to-end action, resulting in more midfield battles, which Hearts won but found it difficult to penetrate the defence of the visitors.
Adams tried his luck from 25 yards, but his shot missed the target.
On 61 minutes, Coach Yaw Preko brought on midfielder Kwasi Adom Yeboah who marked the Hearts dangerman, Adams, closely.
It was a good decision from Preko because it ended Salim’s free runs across the pitch and rendered him ineffective for the remainder of the game.
With Salim marked out, Hearts were reduced to a struggling side although at that stage, Nsoatreman kept their composure and guarded their goal area to safeguard a point from the game.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
