AshantiGold End Hearts Unbeaten Record In Second Round

AshantiGold halted Hearts of Oak�s seven-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi on Sunday in the Ghana Premier League. Striker Yakubu Mohammed converted from the spot in the 3rd minute to give the Miners a 1-0 lead but in-form striker Mahatma Otoo equalised for Hearts with a 19th minute close range finish. Midfielder Alhaji Sanie secured the maximum points for Bashir Hayford�s men with a gracious half-volley from inside the box. Hearts were hoping to stretch their impressive form in the second round with a decent result at Obuasi but AshGold overcame them. They found themselves behind early on when defender Stephen Tetteh handled the ball inside the box. Yakubu Mohammed elected himself to send Tetteh Lugard the wrong way to register the opener for AshGold. Romeo Agban tried to get Hearts on level terms powerful low drive but Fatau Dauda made a routine save to block the danger. Hearts unleashed men forward in search of the much needed equaliser. In 19 minutes, Otoo registered his 11th league goal of the campaign. Bempah sent in a cross from the right and the AshGold defence failed to clear the danger. Henri Traore missed his kicked and Otoo was at the right place to punish AshGold. Emmanuel Osei should have been booked for a silly challenge on Latif Mohammed in the 29th minute. Malik Akowuah went into the referee�s book for a bad foul on returnee Kofi Abanga on the 33rd minute mark Mohammed thought he had restored the lead for AshGold when he pounced on a loose ball into an unguarded net but his effort was ruled out for an unfair challenge on Tetteh Lugard. Hearts made early incursions after the break and won a corner kick but Yakubu Musah�s kick was collected by Fatau Dauda. Joseph Mugre was sacrificed for Ollenu Ashitey in the 52nd minute and that almost yielded results. The substitute found Otoo in space and the captain powered a fierce drive which was palmed to corner by Fatau. Hearts were punished for some sloppy defending in the 57th minute. A Yakubu Mohammed cross was feebly headed away by Tetteh and Sanie applied a simplistic control before slotting into the Hearts net. Duncan shuffled his cards and introduced James Abban to take the place of Yakubu Musah but they failed to find the needed equaliser before the game ended.