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Ghana Premier League and FA CUP holders Accra Hearts of Oak SC beat Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC to lift the 2022 President’s Cup at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening.
The Phobians silenced their noisy neighbors the Porcupine Warriors to lift their fifth President’s with a hard earned narrow 2-1 victory at their favourite home grounds.
Kotoko were quick out of their blocks and played some exciting football to wow the fans at the Accra Sports Stadium including his Excellency President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Kotoko looked a team on a mission in the first quarter of the match with some scintillating and eye-catching passages of play with sleek passing around the middle of the field.
The Accra-based Club grew into the game with time and started imposing themselves on the Porcupine Warriors with great combination play in the middle of the field.
Ghana legend Sulley Ali Muntari was a delight to watch throughout the minutes he spent on the field showing his enormous talent.
Hearts played the remaining minutes of the first half with some tough tackling and commanding display.
The first half of the match ended goalless.
Daniel-Kofi Afriyie Barnieh scored a stupendous goal with his left foot after a brilliant work from Salim Adams and a nice cross from Fatawu Mohammed to make it 1-0.
Kotoko responded well after going down and started causing the Phobians problems at the back.
Substitutes, Samuel Boateng pounced on a lackadaisical defending from Robert Addo Sowah and restored parity after his goal deflected Mohammed Alhassan.
Nevertheless, it was the Phobians that laughed last when Patrick Razak was sent through on goal on the half way line to round goal Ibrahim Danlad before netting the winner for the Rainbow Boys.
Hearts beat Kotoko 2-1 to lift their fifth trophy in the history of the President’s Cup competition.
The two teams will meet again in the Ghana Premier League week 24 on April 9 at the Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium after the their first round meeting ended goalless.
Samuel Boadu and his charges win their first domestic silverware this season despite not playing so well.
By: D. N. A. MENSAH, Daily Mail GH