#NCSpecial: Kotoko beat Hearts in penalty shootout to reach final

Asante Kotoko beat arch-rivals Heats of Oak 5-4 on penalties to advance to the grand finale of the Normalization Special Cup Tier-One competition Sunday afternoon.

The Porcupine Warriors took an early lead but the Phobians grabbed a late equalizer to end the game 1-1 after regulation time at the Accra Sports Stadium.

It was a beautiful build-up in the 5th minute which saw a Naby Keita back-heel allowing Fatawu Safiu to race into the box to hit past a hapless Ben Mensah rooted to his line.

Four minutes later, midfielder Benjamin Autu nearly pegged back with a free header off a neat cross from Umar Manaf but the former’s effort went inches wide.

Hearts, after introducing Kofi Kordzi for Kwadwo Obeng, started the second half on the strong footing, creating back-to-back scoring opportunities but Mohammed Alhassan and Benjamin Afutu missed them.

Probing for the equalizer, Hearts dominated play and in the 85th minute, substitute Malik Akowuah found Kordzi with a pass from midfield, the bulky manage to shrug off his marker with a turn but his shot went off target.

The confident Phobians saw a penalty appeal ignored in the 89th minute but would win one in additional time as centre referee Vormawoh adjudged the ball to have come off the hand of Ganiyu Ismail.

Christopher Bonney stepped up and beautifully planted in the equalizer, forcing the game into penalty shootouts.

Centre-back Mohammed Alhassan missed the 5th kick for Hearts before Kotoko skipper Amos Frimpong took his turn to nail home the match winner.

Asante Kotoko are now in the finals where they face Karela United who shocked AshantiGold with a 1-0 victory in the other semifinal clash played in Obuasi.

The Kotoko-Karela grand finale is set for June 30 with the winner taking up Ghana’s slot at the 2019/20 Caf Champions League.

 

More match photos here: