GPL: Hearts of Oak Secure Vital Win Against Heart of Lions in Ghana Premier League
Accra Hearts of Oak returned to winning ways on Friday, edging out Heart of Lions with a narrow 1-0 victory in the Ghana Premier League. The Phobians’ success came courtesy of a second-half penalty converted by Mawuli Wayo at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
After a frustrating spell of two consecutive draws, Hearts’ coach Aboubakar Ouattara turned to new signing Seth Osei, giving him his debut in hopes of reigniting the team’s performance. In contrast, Lions’ coach Bashir Hayford maintained the same lineup that secured a 2-1 win over Aduana Stars last week.
The match began cautiously, resembling more of a sparring session in the opening 30 minutes. The first real opportunity came in the 16th minute when Mawuli Wayo made a brilliant run into the Lions’ half, setting up Stephen Appiah Asare for a header that was comfortably saved by Lions’ goalkeeper, Lawrence Osei.
Heart of Lions responded with dangerous attacks from Kwesi Pong and Ishmael Addo, but they were thwarted by a resolute Hearts defense led by Konadu Yiadom. Former Hearts striker Kwadwo Obeng Junior attempted a long-range shot but it flew wide, and as the half progressed, Lions began to dominate the midfield.
Hearts of Oak struggled to maintain control without their key player, Theophilus Collison, and faced further frustration when Hamza Issah missed a golden opportunity, sending his shot over the bar from close range. Just before halftime, Wayo came agonizingly close to scoring, striking the ball against both posts without it crossing the line, much to the dismay of the home fans.
The second half kicked off with high drama as Hearts were awarded a penalty just five minutes in. Stephen Appiah Asare was brought down by George Osei after a dazzling run inside the box. Wayo stepped up to take the penalty and confidently slotted it home, putting Hearts in the lead.
Though Lions continued to press for an equalizer, they struggled to breach the stubborn Hearts defense. A notable chance came in the 67th minute when Nana Kwame Oppong’s shot was expertly tipped over the bar by Hearts keeper Benjamin Asare, keeping the Phobians ahead.
As the match progressed, both coaches made substitutions, with Hayford introducing Seedorf Asante, who had scored in the previous match, while Ouattara brought on new signing Adam Aziz for his Premier League debut. However, neither move was able to change the outcome of the match.
Hearts of Oak held on for a vital victory, marking their first win in three matches. With this win, they have climbed to fourth place in the league standings with 33 points, just one point behind league leaders Asante Kotoko, who are set to face Nsoatreman F.C. on Sunday. Meanwhile, Heart of Lions remains in third place on head-to-head points.
