Samartex boosted their hopes of finishing in the Ghana Premier League top four after a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Hearts of Oak at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Sunday.
Gabriel Osei scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute, securing a vital win for Samartex in their final home fixture of the season.
The hosts came into the match determined to respond after back-to-back defeats, while Hearts of Oak arrived aiming to extend their recent unbeaten run despite already being out of the title race.
However, the Phobians’ build-up to the game was disrupted after their team bus was involved in a minor road accident on the journey to the stadium. Although no serious injuries were reported, the incident appeared to have an impact on their focus.
Samartex started the brighter of the two sides, showing more urgency and creating the better chances, while Hearts struggled to carve out clear openings despite their recent defensive stability.
After a goalless first half, the breakthrough arrived in the 72nd minute when Gabriel Osei calmly finished to send the home supporters into celebration.
Hearts pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages but lacked cutting edge in the final third as Samartex held firm to claim all three points.
The result strengthens Samartex’s push for a top-four finish heading into the final round of fixtures, while Hearts of Oak continue to endure an inconsistent campaign.
