Live from Baba Yara Sports Stadium
The Super Clash has had little attention recently but it lived up to the expectations of old lovers of Ghanaian football.
Baba Yara witnessed a crunch clash between two eternal rivals as Asante Kotoko defeated Hearts of Oak 3-2.
In a competitive fixture that could define the future of both teams on the league log, the away side proved to be ahead of the home team. Hearts of Oak got off to a good start with Salifu Ibrahim pulling the strings in midfield with Kelvin Asigbey showing from the back the reason why he’s so highly rated.
Salifu Ibrahim and Richmond Lamptey were two controllers in the midfield who were going to decide the game as their touches, passes, tackles and link-up plays were unmatched.
Salifu Ibrahim’s pinpoint set piece was powerfully headed into the net by Linda Mtange in the 37th minute to give Hearts of Oak a deserving lead. The Congolese midfielder is not the tallest player but his header was with immense precision that Asare had no chance to stop it.
Salifu Ibrahim, popularly known as Di Maria, was the general overseer in the Phobia midfield as his passes and control of the midfield lifted the home team any time he had the ball.
Isaac Oppong levelled the score for Fabolous as Richmond Lamptey’s defence-splitting pass found Baba Yahaya who just released the ball to Oppong for a neat finish as Richard Ayi was helpless.
The second half started with both teams determined to score the next goal. Then came the beginning of Hearts of Oak’s end as their midfield controller got injured just 8 minutes into the second half.
Martin Karikari replaced Ibrahim Salifu as it was a tough job because the injured Ibrahim Salifu was Hearts of Oak’s best player alongside Kelvin Asigbey. Kashala Ramos Wanet was also replaced by Gideon Asante in the 53rd minute. The two Changes switched the momentum to Kotoko as Richmond Lamptey stepped up.
There was no one left in the Hearts midfield who was so comfortable on the ball as Kotoko’s Lamptey.
Controversy ensued in the 56th minute after Steven Mukwala had put Kotoko ahead. Richmond Ayi could have done much better after he was unable to save Isaac Oppong’s shot which Mukwala just tapped in. The referees had a mini conversation before the goal was given.
Kotoko’s dominance paid off as the impressive Kelvin Asigbey’s back pass was too soft and Ayi couldn’t clear it which led to Mukwala and just the net and made it 3-1.
Hearts of Oak pulled one back late in the 94th minute through Martin Karikari but it was too late for the Phobians to mount a comeback.
Richmond Lamptey won the battle of the midfield generals because he enjoyed the whole 90 minutes as Salifu Ibrahim got injured and was substituted in the 53rd minute.
This was easily one of the best Super Clashes in recent years as the game was beautiful and competitive.
Hearts of Oak next travels to the in-form Nations FC as Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara face another Accra team, Great Olympics.
