Hearts of Oak bounced back from their matchday one disappointment by overcoming Nsoatreman FC at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Kashala Ramos Wanet scored to give the Phobians the 1-0 triumph with a close-range finish in the fourth minute.
Team News
Martin Koopman trusted Richard Attah to start in the goalpost again, Kofi Agbesimah and Kelvin Osei Asibey in central defence.
Upfront, Salifu Ibrahim who came on as a substitute in Tamale joined Kashala Wanet.
Nsoatreman’s starting midfield had Stephen Diyou and Abdul Manaf Umar while goalkeeper Daniel Afadzwu started ahead of Dennis Votere.
📖TEAM SHEET 📖
This is our squad who will play against Accra Hearts of Oak this afternoon
Amanaso Boys up up up 🙌🙌🙌@NHIS Ghana @Mybet Africa pic.twitter.com/ahvrTnqDnu
— NSOATREMAN FC (@Nsoatreman_FC) September 24, 2023
Hearts needed a win after their disappointing defeat to RTU in Tamale and Wanet announced his presence in Ghana football, netting his first goal for the club.
Wanet’s header initially hit the post but then fell kindly to him, allowing him to make no mistake and put Hearts of Oak in the lead.
Rasmos Kashala announces his presence after scoring his debut goal at his debut game for Hearts!@HeartsOfOakGH 1 : 0 @Nsoatreman_FC
Catch more #betPawaPremierLeague action on ST Adepa Channel 247 & StarTimes ON App📲https://t.co/S4e6RFR1t9#betPawaGPLwk2 #AHOSC #nsoatreman pic.twitter.com/6pw4x8crRt
— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) September 24, 2023
After the opener, Hearts continued to dominate the encounter while Nsoatreman searched for the leveller.
Manaf Umar was close for the visitors but his strike was a bit feeble to beat Attah in the 16th minute.
Salifu Ibrahim’s delightful freekick for the Phobians in the 25th minute looked like the second goal as it missed the goalpost by inches.
In the 34th minute, Nsoatreman captain Phillip Ofori elbowed Kashala Wanet and got sent off for the incident.
Nsoatreman had been awarded a freekick and in his quest to retrieve the ball for the kick, the skipper made his suffer the numerical advantage.
But Hearts failed to make the edge count as they missed loads of clear cut opportunities in the second half.
Yaw Amankwah Baafi struck the goalpost four minutes after the hour mark after receiving a neat pass from Martin Karikari.
The Rainbow Boys could have made it 2-0 from the corner kick in the 68th minute.
Asibey’s header was stopped by Afadzwu and it fell to Kashala who delivered a poor effort in the 6-yard box.
Albert Eonde had the last opportunity for the home side in the 87th minute but Afadzwu parried his effort out.
For their third league clash, Hearts of Oak head to Sunyani for Bofoakwa Tano.
Nsoatreman on the other hand, will hope to return to winning ways against Dreams FC in Dawu.
