Hearts defeated Kotoko in Accra for the first time in 8 years. The following are few observations made from the game which was won by a Vincent Atinga penalty kick.
BAD OFFICIATING DECIDED THE GAME Another week, another big game decided by a poor refereeing decision. Referee Sucker, center man for the Ghana Super Clash decided the game when whistled for a penalty for a nonexistent hand ball.
THREE BACK WAS THE MAGIC Kotoko have been playing the 3 back system all season. Fans have been crying for the coach to tweak his formation.
Today he played a back 4 with Eric Donkor and Amos Frimpong as fullbacks flanking the center pair of Naffiu Awudu and Ahmed Adams. Kotoko did play well and didn’t deserve a defeat but it’s still remain a fact that Kotoko lost the day Zdravko Logarusic decided to listen to fans call.
AKURUGU VINDICATED HIS COACH’S DECISION Benjamin Mensah has been Hearts’ first choice keeper this season but Nuttal decided to go with Akurugu for this game. The keeper pulled fantastic saves to deny Kotoko on many occasions. Nuttal will be proud.
FRANK NUTTAL PROVED Frank Nuttal ditched his 4-4-2 for a 4-3-3 in the first half. He was quick to react in the 2nd half by subbing on attacker Patrick Razak for a midfielder Daniel Kordie. Razak made the then one sided game even. Razak tormented Kotoko’s left back Eric Donkor prompting Zdravko Logarusic to bring on Atta Kusi to assist Donkor.
Another sub that was spot on was the coming on of Cosmos Dauda. The striker added more muscle to the Hearts attack. Emmanuel Gyamfi is fantastic.
The petite winger has been one of the stand out players in the season so far and what he was exhibited this afternoon at the Accra Sports Stadium only proved pundits right.
The 26 shirted man was a joy to watch. He terrorized Joshua Oto’o, Hearts’ left back all game.
source: ghanasoccernet.com