Barnieh bags brace as Hearts seal GPL double over Accra Lions [+VIDEO]
Two-goal hero Daniel Ariyie Barnieh and mates celebrate | COURTESY: Ziray Photos
Hearts of Oak defeated 10-man Accra Lions 3-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium Friday afternoon to make it only their third away win in 13 attempts in the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League (GPL).
It’s six points gained from the topflight debutants this campaign as the first meeting ended 2-0 in favour of the Phobians on match-day 9.
On 11 minutes, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh – who scored in the previous fixture between the two sides at Cape Coast Stadium – opened the scoring this time with a simple close-range finish after Salifu Ibrahim’s shot got parried into his path.
Afiyie Barnieh puts his name on the score sheet@AccraLionsFC 0-1 @HeartsOfOakGH
Showing live on ST Adepa Ch. 247 & StarTimes ON App 📲https://t.co/rZyMN2zAch#GPL #StarTimes #BringBackTheLove #Ghana #GPLonStarTimes #GPLwk26 pic.twitter.com/9rc3inOz2M
— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) April 22, 2022
The hosts strongly mounted a chase for the equalizer but their bid suffered a setback in the 38th minute as Abdul Rashid Abubakar got sent off for a reckless lunge. The 22-year-old central midfielder flew into Kwadwo Obeng Jnr, leaving the Hearts forward injured on the left ankle.
Hearts were forced into bringing on Isaac Agyenim Boateng for Obeng Jnr. – who had a heavy strapping applied on his ankle following the bad tackle he suffered.
Despite having a man down, Lions kept their shape, created a couple of chances and came very close in first-half added time through a Fatawu Hamidu cheeky free-kick but Jacob Amu Mensah failed to finish off the chance.
The early part of the second half saw Lions chasing the equalizer by throwing more men forward and got punished on the counter after failing to score.
Clearance at the back found midfielder Suraj Seidu who released a well-thought-through pass down the channel for Agyenim Boateng who shrugged off the challenge from Amu Mensah and wrong-footed goalkeeper Appiah Kubi before threading home the second goal in the 55th minute.
Isaac Agyenim Boateng makes it 2 for #Phobia@AccraLionsFC 0-2 @HeartsOfOakGH
Showing live on ST Adepa Ch. 247 & StarTimes ON App 📲https://t.co/rZyMN2zAch#GPL #StarTimes #BringBackTheLove #Ghana #GPLonStarTimes #GPLwk26 pic.twitter.com/YqJ9CTaSJ2
— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) April 22, 2022
Veteran midfielder Sulley Muntari – who missed the last five games for the Phobians – came off the bench to bag an assist in the 89th minute. His corner kick was perfectly connected home from close range by Barnieh who had been denied from scoring further a couple of times after his opener.
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh scores a brace from Sulley Muntari's corner kick.
Accra Lions FC 0-3 Accra Hearts of Oak
Catch more GPL live games on ST Adepa Ch. 247 & StarTimes ON App 📲https://t.co/rZyMN2zAch#GPL #StarTimes #BringBackTheLove #Ghana #GPLonStarTimes #GPLwk26 pic.twitter.com/H9UJi9JtJq
— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) April 22, 2022
The match-day 26 fixture ended 3-0 – win number 3 from 13 away games so far for the defending champions. Hearts have drawn and lost 5 each in the other 10.
Two-goal hero Daniel Afriyie Barnieh – after taking his tally to 7 goals this campaign – was also named NASCO man-of-the-match.
The cleansheet victory sees Hearts of Oak climb to 4th position with 40 points, having played a game more than Great Olympics and Medeama who have 39 each.
On 33 points, Accra Lions now risk losing their 10th spot when all match-day 26 games are cleared over the weekend.