Struggling Accra Hearts of Oak SC advanced to the next stage of the MTN FA Cup Competition when they chalked a 2-0 victory over Prampram-based Pure Joy Football Club at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, on Sunday.
\nIn a game which many expected a stiff opposition from the Division One side, due to previous results of matches between the two sides, but it was a determined Hearts side who took an early lead in the fourth minute through Mahatma Otoo.
\nThe early goal came through a free-kick perfectly delivered by Otoo, after Abdul Bashiru made a quick touch of the ball for skipper to deliver a non-drop grounder for the final drive straight into the net for the opener.
\nDetermined to appease their fans with a victory after strings of loses in the premiership at their back yard, Hearts probed for more goals and succeeded in getting another again in the 26th minute from Otoo. It was an easy assignment for Otoo, after David Ocloo\u2019s cross and subsequent connection by Bashiru hit the post and returned into play for Otoo to cooly apply his head with little challenge for the second goal.
\nHearts held unto their lead till the close of the first half and returned to the second half with renewed energy to increases the tally but it was rather the visitors who turned the heat on the Phobians.
\nPure Joy subjected Hearts to intensed pressure in an attempt to cancel the two goals, but Rahman Dauda and Ali Bashiru were unable to break through the central defensive pair of Osei Bonsu and Philip Boampong. The pressure on Hearts intensified when they lost midfielder Theopilus Apoh for a reckless tackle on his opponent in the 49th minute.
\nBut when Dauda managed to break through the Hearts defence in the 57th minute and had only keeper Philemon McCarthy to beat, he blew off the opportunity. Pure Joy could have at least gone home with a consolation goal, but they continued to blew off some scoring chances, whilst Hearts also had a perfect opportunity to increase the tally in the 80th minute, but Otoo\u2019s feeble touch was easily handled by Pure Joy\u2019s keeper James Addo.
\nWith a very stable defence, Hearts kept their opponents at bay and managed to run away with the two goal lead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Struggling Accra Hearts of Oak SC advanced to the next stage of the MTN FA Cup Competition when they chalked a 2-0 victory over Prampram-based Pure Joy Football Club at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, on Sunday. In a game which many expected a stiff opposition from the Division One side, due to previous results […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n