Hearts of Oak defeated Medeama SC 1-0 in a 2022/23 betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL) match-day 14 clash on Saturday to end their longstanding winless streak at Tarkwa.
The Phobians hadn’t beaten Medeama away since a GPL game on February 28, 2016, when Japanese-American coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi led them to win 2-0 at T&A Park with second-half goals from Cosmos Dauda and Eric Kumi.
Breaking the jinx this time at Akoon Park, Hearts had Serbian Slavko Matic in charge. His brave tactics – deploying Baafi Amankwah at right-back and shifting the experienced Samuel Inkoom to the left-back position and pairing the not-completely-fit Caleb Amankwah with Robert Addo Sowah in central defence – worked quite well.
It was a Baafi hopeful ball that led to Hearts scoring the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute. As the ball landed inside the box, a scramble ensued, and it kindly fell to striker Kwadwo Obeng Jnr who scored.
The visitors led 1-0 at the break.
Medeama came close to the equalizer 5 minutes into the second half when Nana Banyin Quayson had goalkeeper Richmond Ayi completely beaten but his low strike crashed into the post.
Though lacking the cutting edge, the Mauve and Yellow threw everything at Hearts but Matic’s men managed to stay on their feet. Ayi pulled another crucial save in the 85th minute to deny Kwasi Donsu who looked like scoring from close range.
The solitary goal victory sees Hearts of Oak move to tie on 24 points with leaders Aduana FC who host Accra Lions on Sunday. Medeama, meanwhile, are flirting with the relegation zone with 17 points after 14 matches.
Caleb Amankwah of Hearts of Oak picked up the man-of-the-match award.
Watch the only goal of the game below:
