Hearts to play Okwawu in ABC/FA cup final
Hearts to play Okwawu in ABC/FA cup final
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 October 2000
Champion club, Accra Hearts of Oak, have qualified to play Okwawu United in the finals this years ABC/FA knockout when they beat Dawu Youngsters by a lone goal in a hard fought game at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday.
It was Dawu who kicked off and dominated the early exchanges of the game with good passes in the midfield as hard working winger Addulai Tahiru tormented the Hearts defence with good crosses which his striker failed to utilise.
Hearts seized the initiative from Dawu half way through the first half and came close to scoring in the 22nd minute as Skipper Jacob Nettey drove in a fierce shot from about 30 metres but this was equally saved acrobatically by goalkeeper Sumaila Abdulai in post for Dawu.
Hearts pilled up pressure on the visitors and came close again to take the opener when Charles Taylor's header bounced off the upright for Joe Robinson to clear into touch.
In the 32nd minute, Ishmeal Addo who seems to have lost his goal-scoring form, dummied two defender of Dawu but again his shot was saved by Sumaila who was in wonderful form.
Dawu should have taken the lead in the 39th minute as Tahiru's cross from the right found Awudu Adama unmarked in the goal area of Hearts but the Striker headed wide off the post.
The second half was a different story as Hearts brought on Charles Allotey and Kenneth Sarpong for Victor Agbahovowa and Osumanu Amadu respectively and the changes brought more life into the Hearts attack.
Substitute Kenneth Sarpong put Hearts in the lead as he tapped from a melee as a result of Charles Taylor's corner kick in the 57th minute.
Hearts enjoyed long spells of possession in the midfield as Taylor and Addo came close on numerous occasions to scoring but poor shooting rubbed of the opportunities.
In the 82nd minute Taylor found Addo unmarked in the goal area of Dawu after he had broken through the offside trap but Addo's thunderbolt rebounded off the upright.
Referee Osei Nsaih whistled for an indirect kick close to the penalty box of Hearts after Joe Ansah had brought down Eric Mbroh in the 41st minute and this brought a protest from players of Dawu who claimed the foul was committed in the penalty box.
With two minutes of regulation time to go Charles Taylor on his usual dashing runs on the right wing nearly made it two but again found Sumaila denying him the chance.
GRi…/