Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko shared the spoils during a rescheduled Week 7 fixture of the Ghana Premier League on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The first Super Clash of the season had to be postponed due the Hearts of Oak’s Africa participation at the time of the original date of the match in December 2021.
The outcome of the encounter sees Asante Kotoko increase their lead at the summit of the league standings on 37 points in 17 games – seven more points than second placed Bechem United.
Here are five things we learned from the Super Clash.
1.Sulley Muntari showed that the class of a player is permanent
The former Inter Milan midfielder made his third appearance since joining the Phobians for the second round of the season as Samuel Boadu handed him a second successive start. His passes were excellent and Hearts of Oak could have scored a goal through Sulley following his bicycle kick in the 10th minute. He was however taken off in the second half due tiredness – understandably considering his age.
2.Dennis Korsah excelled
The Hearts of Oak left back was one of the biggest performers of the afternoon and justified why the Phobians signed him to replace Raddy Ovouka who left the Ghanaian champions. The former Ebusua Dwarfs captain won almost all of his duels against either Dickson Afoakwa or Georges Mfegue down the right flank of Kotoko.
He did his job so well. A huge game for Korsah.
3.The quality of the game justified the hype
This is the biggest fixture of the Ghana Premier League and despite the lack of goals the Big Two produced a high level, entertaining and attacking football.
4.Etouga Mbella tamed
The top scorer of the league – on 11 goals – was heavily policed by Hearts of Oak central defensive dup Mohammed Alhassan and Robert Addo Sowah
5.Samuel Boadu continues to doubt top scorer Kofi Kordzi
Most coaches hardly bench their largest source of goals but Kordzi who has 7 goals this season for Hearts of Oak is far behind the attacking pecking order at the club. Afriyie Barnie, Obeng Kwadwo Jnr and Isaac Mensah are ahead of Big Kofi. Obeng and Barnie started Sunday’s encounter and when Boadu decided to make changes Mensah was first called upon before Kordzi.
