Goals from Burkinabe import Songne Yacouba led Asante Kotoko to a 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in the first leg of a double-header friendly on Sunday.
The two teams arranged the games to test their strengths as they await the resumption of local football which has been on hold since June.
The game started in frantic fashion at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium with the Porcupine Warriors dominating for large periods.
But for referee Maxwell Hanson’s game management approach, players like Augustine Sefa could have been sent for early showers due to some hard tackles.
And it was Yacouba who brought his predating instinct to bear with the opening goal in the 38th minute – off a rather poor spill of a shot by experienced Hearts goalkeeper Ernest Sowah – the Kotoko striker pounced with a one-time hit into the net.
Sowah’s mistake cost him his place after the break with Seth Hoffman, the interim coach of the Phobians deciding to introduce Ben Mensah to man the post.
Kotoko got their game on with the evergreen Jordan Opoku proving too slippery to handle by the Hearts of Oak men as he continually sprayed the ball about while executing some delectable dribbles in midfield.
Just before the hour mark, Kotoko made it 2-0 – after a swift counterattack with Songne Yacouba again finishing off Opoku’s intelligent pass through.
Hearts finished the game with 10 men due to a second yellow card received by Robert Addo.
The two teams return to the same venue for the reverse fixture on Sunday, September 2.
Line-ups:
Hearts XI
Ernest Sowah, Fataw Mohammed, William Dankyi, Robert Addo, Ben Agyare, Malik Akowuah, Isaac Mensah, Samudeen Ibrahim, Obeng Kwadwo Jnr, Joseph Esso, Patrick Razak
Subs:
James, Radji Avouka, Dan Kodei, Aminu Alhassan, Camara Nguesan, Salasai Bakai, Ben Mensah
Kotoko XI:
Osei Kwame – Amos Frimpong, Augustine Sefa, Wahab Adams, Agyemang Badu – Richard Senanu, Prince Acquah, Michael Yeboah, Jordan Opoku – Obed Owusu, Songne Yacouba
Subs:
Douglas Owusu Ansah, Frederick Boateng, Ibrahim, Isaac Amponsah, Stephen Nyarko, Emmanuel Owusu, Felix Annan
