All Stars stuns Hearts in Accra

Wa All Stars assumed the leadership of the Ghana Premier League with a resounding victory over Accra Hearts of Oak, at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday (3rd April 2016).

All Stars defeated Hearts 3-1, the first defeat of the season for Hearts, after five matches.

Having had a flying start to the season, Hearts were the favourites to win the day, but they were stunned by the visitors in the 18th minute, when Kweku Asunadzie beat an off-side trap, to slot in the first goal.

The players and supporters protested against the goal, because they felt it was an off-side goal. The players rushed onto the Assistant Referee One and the middle referee, whilst the supporters threw water bottles onto the pitch in protest against the decision.

This held the game for about five minutes, till calm was restored for the game to continue, but Hearts was unable to put their game together and could hardly find their rhythm.

All Stars remained focused and succeeded in increasing the tally in the 26th minute, through Richard Arthur, who raced past defender Roben Gnagna to put the ball behind keeper Samuel Akurugu for the second goal.

Hearts struggled to search for equaliser, but failed as the first half ended in favour of the Wa based side.

Hearts came back strongly in the second half and played an improved game following the introduction of Ashietey Ollenu and Cosmas Dauda.

But this was not enough for them to overcome the Wa side, though substitute Ibrahim Musah managed to pull one back in the 55th minute, which for many was to begin the resurrection, but it was shot-lived as Emmanuel Ocran’s shot at the edge of the box beat keeper Akurugu in post for Hearts.

All Stars stacked to their game plan and frustrated every attempt, made by Hearts to reduce the tally in the second half.

Hearts appealed for two penalties in the later stages of the game, but were denied by referee Ernest Bafi.

Fans of Hearts of Oak blamed the referee for the defeat and pelted them with stones and water bottles. Later the supporters besieged the VIP section of the stadium in search of the match officials.

It took the intervention of the police men on duty to take the referees out of the stadium.

GNA