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Albert Amoah’s last-minute strike secured a dramatic 1-0 victory for Asante Kotoko over their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak in Kumasi on Sunday. The result mar ked Kotoko’s third consecutive league triumph over Hearts in a fiercely contested Ghana Premier League derby.
The game began with Kotoko taking control, pushing Hearts of Oak onto the back foot with aggressive play. Within the first 30 seconds, Hearts goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was forced into an incredible save to deny an early Kotoko goal. Despite Kotoko’s initial dominance, Hearts gradually found their rhythm, controlling possession but failing to carve out clear-cut opportunities, with most attempts coming from long-range efforts that missed the target.
Kotoko had their share of missed chances in the first half, including an off-target header by Albert Amoah and a missed opportunity by Baba Yahaya, who sent a shot over the bar from close range. Hearts came close too, with Baba Yahaya’s shot narrowly missing the target after a promising solo effort.
The second half saw Hearts of Oak seize the initiative, led by Salim Adams, who orchestrated several attacking moves. Adams set up Kwabena Boateng for a potential breakthrough, but a timely defensive tackle denied the Phobians a goal. Kotoko also struggled to capitalize on their chances, with Baba Yahaya missing another opportunity to put the hosts ahead.
As the match wore on, it seemed destined to end in a stalemate, with both teams missing chances to break the deadlock.
However, deep into added time, Hearts of Oak’s defense faltered. A miscommunication between Kelvin Osei Asibey and Benjamin Asare allowed Albert Amoah to pounce on the loose ball and calmly slot it into the net for his seventh goal of the season. The mistake overshadowed an otherwise solid defensive display by both players and handed Kotoko a thrilling victory.
The win propelled Kotoko into sixth place on the Ghana Premier League table, leapfrogging Hearts of Oak, who now sit in seventh.
