Hearts of Oak began life at their new home grounds with an embarrassing defeat to AshantiGold on matchday 2 of the 2017/18 Ghana Premier League Saturday afternoon.
The Phobians, who have adopted the Cape Coast Stadium for the new campaign, were thrashed 3-1 by the visiting Miners.
For the second game running, Hearts showed vulnerability to set pieces as they got beaten to a corner kick just before the 10th minute – James Akaminko placed himself well to benefit from Hearts’ failure to clear the ball as he simply tapped home the opening goal.
Raddy Okemba, the Congo international who was making his debut in the Ghana league for the Phobians could not pull his weight on the wings forcing coach Henry Wellington to take him off for Isaac Mensah just two minutes before the break.
Hearts’ task became even harder in the second half when diminutive attacker Amos Addai doubled the lead on the hour mark after weaving his way through the Phobian defenders.
New signing Joseph Esso halved the deficit 15 minutes from time – his debut goal. The Phobians looked to push for the leveler only for Shafiu Mumuni to pop up a minute from time and scored off a good attacking move by substitute Prince Amoah. 3-1. The goal was Shafiu’s second in as many games. His teammate Richard Osei Agyemang emerged NASCO man-of-the-match.
In the other Saturday kickoff, Ebusua Dwarfs travelled to hold Wa All Stars to a pulsating goalless draw at the Malik Jabir Park. All Stars’s Isahaku Zakaria was adjudged NASCO man-of-the-match.
AshantiGold now lead the Premier League log with six points with Dwarfs sitting second on four points. Six other match day two games come up on Sunday.
