2020/21 MTN FA Cup: Hearts thrash Medeama to set up final with AshantiGold

Hearts of Oak set up a 2020/21 MTN FA Cup final date with AshantiGold after hammering Medeama SC 3-0 Sunday night.

The Ghana Premier League champions kept their domestic double dreams alive with a goal in the first half from Benjamin Afutu before Isaac Mensah and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh added two more in the second semifinal clash at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

Playing Amed Touré as the only arrowhead, Medeama rarely troubled the Phobians who were always dangerous from the flanks at the other end.

And in one of their early forays, striker Isaac Mensah picked out Afutu with a decent cross from the right which was brilliantly headed in by the unmarked midfielder.

1-0 Hearts led after 12 minutes and same it stayed for the first half dominated by coach Samuel Boadu’s side.

Needing to get back on level terms, the Mauve and Yellows came in with chances of their own in the second half but struggled to find the back of the net.

Frederick Ansah Botchway, after a lovely turn, placed a hopeful pass almost from the halfway line into space. Isaac Mensah raced for the ball coming up against onrushing Medeama goalkeeper Frank Boateng whose woeful attempted clearance gifted the striker the second goal in the 59th minute.

Daniel Afriyie Barnieh went on to win a penalty for Hearts after referee Selorm Yao Bless adjudged that the Medeama shot-stopper had brought him down.

Afriyie Barnieh had his initial effort from the spot saved but goalkeeper Boateng had stepped off his line, giving the Hearts attacker the chance to neatly convert the retake in the 73rd minute.

Hearts, the record FA Cup champions, won 3-0 and now have the chance to extend their dominance to 11 titles against AshantiGold in the grand finale scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, August 8.

Caleb Amankwah of Hearts was adjudged man-of-the-match.