Kotoko beat Hearts to lift President’s Cup 2019

Asante Kotoko successfully defended the President’s Cup title with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in Kumasi Sunday afternoon.

After a boring opening 15 minutes spell, the Porcupines took control of the game and looked always the first to score but they were undone by a handball incident in the final third of first-half action.

Kofi Kordzi, the Phobians’ burly striker, had bullied his way through the Kotoko defence only for play to be stopped by Empem Dacosta handing the ball in his own penalty area.

Kordzi stepped up and converted the penalty on 36 minutes.

Hearts were, however, forced to spurn the lead themselves just before halftime when Kotoko left-back Patrick Yeboah’s cross after a superb run saw centre-back Mohammed Alhassan turning the ball into his own net.

Returnee Kotoko coach Maxwell Konadu, who was supervising his first official game, threw in Guinean import Naby Keita in the second half and the striker proved a super-sub as he soon scored with a header what turned out the match-winner in the 64^th minute.

Kotoko’s Patrick Yeboah, who provided the assist with another cross, should have been sent off for a second yellow card as he took off his shirt in celebrating with teammate Keita but the referee failed to spot handing the player an initial caution in the 17^th minute.

Hearts rather finished the game with 10 men following Robert Addo Sowah’s latest consistent rough play on 16-year-old sensation Matthew Cudjoe who had come on for Augustine Okrah. It was a second bookable offence and last action in the encounter for the centre-back just into time added on.

Asante Kotoko have now won the President’s Cup three times in a row – all beating Hearts in 2016, 2017 and now 2019.

After initially receiving GH¢100,000 each as appearance fee, Asante Kotoko will now pocket an extra GH¢30,000 for winning the 2019 President’s Cup while Hearts take home GH¢20,000 as losers.