President Cup 2019: Kotoko 2-1 Hearts, more about the game
Asante Kotoko welcomed Hearts of Oak to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for the 2019 Presidential Cup final. Maxwell headed into the game in search of his first win after completing his second coming to the Kumasi based club early this month.
At other end, Hearts boss Kim Grant walked in search of his first win in his two games against Kotoko after being hammered by the Porcupine Warriors in the semifinals of the Normalization Committee Special Competition July this year for his first game against the Reds.
Kotoko handed new signing Christopher Nettey his debut game whiles Hearts called Richard Atta for the first time in any competitive game.
Despite gaining a high hype before kickoff, the game failed to live up to expectation inside first 30’ minutes at Baba Yara. However, both teams begun to warm themselves into the game with Kotoko the first to question the integrity of Hearts’ defense for being resilient for most minutes of the first half.
Emmanuel Gyamfi skipped past Hearts defender Robert Addo Sowah before the winger’s strike hit the woodwork on the 29’ minute, and the resulting rebound was hit over the crossbar by Mudasiru Salifu.
Like Kotoko seemed to pushing the game to Hearts, another Kotoko movement saw Hearts Richard Atta stepped in to produce a wonderful save to deny Kotoko the opener five minutes after Gyamfi’s woodwork.
Despite Kotoko dominating around this period, it was Hearts who took the lead after they broke on counter, Empem Dacosta sent in a tackle on forward Kofi Kodzi but the ball hit the defender’s hand in the process for a penalty. The bulky striker Kodzi stepped out to convert the penalty to put the Phobians ahead on the 36’ minute.
Kotoko drew level 45+2, Patrick Yeboah went on attack from the left and released a left-footed shot which Mohammed Alhassan hastily connected the ball into the net in his haste to clear the lines.
Kotoko took the lead in the second half after Guinean striker Naby Kieta who had replaced Collins Ameyaw on the 58’ minute rose above the Hearts defense to head home Patrick Yeboah cross form the left flank to make the game 2-1 on 64’ minute.
Kotoko nearly grabbed the third goal but Kieta’s header on the 79’ minute struck the crossbar before Hearts was reduced to ten men after Robert Addo was booked for the second.
Today’s triumph gives Asante Kotoko their second Presidential Cup title in a row when they defeated today’s opponent on penalties to lift the 2017 edition, and they extent their title to a record of six times in this final, two more than the second most successful club Hearts who have won the Presidential Cup on 4 times.
