Hearts of Oak complete domestic double with FA Cup win
The Phobians edged AshantiGold 8-7 on penalties having played to a 0-0 draw AET.
Hearts of Oak have won the double for the first time since 2000 after beating AshantiGold 8-7 on penalties in the 2020/21 MTN FA Cup final Sunday night.
Having seen his colleagues miss thrice, goalkeeper Richard Attah emerged the hero as he scored the Phobians’ 11th penalty with a thunderbolt before opposing number Kofi Mensah blazed his kick over after 120 minutes of football at the Accra Sports Stadium.
It’s the Phobians’ 11th FA Cup title, a record they hold in this competition.
Hearts of Oak had a better start but their dominance lasted briefly as AshantiGold dominated the first 10 minutes of the game.
Boadu’s side worked their way back into the game and midfielder Benjamin Afutu thought he had the opener in the 15th minute from his bullet header that clipped the crossbar.
Referee Daniel Laryea was closer to the action to make the right call.
Goalkeeper Mensah was called into action three times in delicate situations and managed to work his way out, including avoiding an early penalty when he came into contact with Patrick Razak.
AshantiGold dictated play from midfield for a major part of the first half that saw a lot of fouls from both sides. The two teams did not create many clear openings in a physical first period.
The two teams were more creative in the first 15 minutes of the second half than they were in the first half.
AshantiGold broke through Hearts’ backline in the 70th minute and were closer to scoring than they were in the game. Mohammed Alhassan produced a great backheel clearance to keep the scoreline 0-0.
Daniel Afriyie outsmarted his markers in stoppage time and shot firmly from the right side of the box but Mensah was up to the task and palmed the last touch of regulation time to safety.
The game needed something extraordinary to win it for either side but that didn’t arrive in 120 minutes of football and was headed to penalty shootouts.
Caleb Amankwah, Daniel Afriyie, and Benjamin Afutu missed for Hearts in the 10 on-field players.
Attah saved Seth Osei’s kick to keep the Phobians in the game, scored and saved Mensah’s kick to hand Hearts the double.
Amos Addai, David Abagna, Seth Osei, and Kofi Mensah missed the Miners’ spot-kicks.
By Abdul Karim Adamu Benin
