Hearts of Oak are through to the final of the MTN FA Cup for the successive season after edging Dreams FC in a five-goal thriller at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The record champions (11 times) are thus on course for a successful title defense as they await the winner of the second semifinal between Bechem United and Aduana FC.
It was Dreams who took a surprise lead as early as the 4th minute through Simba Sylvester.
But incessant pressure from the Phobians paid off by the 11th-minute mark. Benjamin Yorke was just on hand to finish off the rebound after Daniel Afriyie Barnieh’s initial strike got blocked by goalkeeper Augustine Koomson.
The first half ended 1-1.
In-form Barnieh would go on to put Hearts in the driving seat right from the break with a brilliant strike from close range.
Dreams FC had Ibrahim Issah sent off with a straight red card in the 59th minute following a reckless tackle on Hearts centre-back Mohammed Alhassan.
In the 66th minute, the Still Believe side opted for a goalkeeper change with Solomon Agbesi coming on to replace Koomson.
And Agbesi was welcomed with a goal just about the following minute as a lucky Seidu Suraj saw an attempted clearance come off his leg for the ball to beat the keeper – lead extended to 3-1.
Striker Kweku Karikari came off the bench and almost instantly reduced the deficit to 3-2 by capitalizing on a spill by goalkeeper Richmond Ayi in the 78th minute.
Two minutes later, Karikari was presented another chance to level the scoring but he surprisingly blasted wide from inside the box.
He brilliantly created another chance for himself in the 82nd minute but his curl narrowly missed the target.
Dreams continued to spurn more chances with Hearts holding on until the final whistle.
The final – which will close the 2021/22 season – is scheduled for the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday, June 26.