Aduana Stars cemented their hold on third place in the Ghana Premier League with a narrow 1-0 victory over Accra Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The only goal of the match came from the boot of Kelvin Obeng, sending the travelling Dormaa-based side into raptures.
The Phobians, desperate for points to climb up the table, were left frustrated after a dogged performance failed to translate into goals.
Hearts of Oak coach, Abubakar Ouattara, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings. “Today is very bad game, I don’t have anything to say but very bad game”
He also commended Aduana for their display. “We had a good game plan, but credit to Aduana, they defended resolutely and took their chance. We need to find a way to convert our pressure into goals.”
Aduana boss, Yaw Acheampong, was delighted with his side’s resilience. “This is a massive win for us, especially away from home. The boys showed great character, and Kelvin’s goal was pure quality. We’ll keep pushing for a strong finish to the season.”
The win helps Aduana to maintain their 3rd spot in the league, while the Phobians remain precariously close to the drop zone, sitting in 12th position with 38 points.
The result is a microcosm of the contrasting fortunes of the two teams this season – Aduana, playing with purpose and composure, while Hearts of Oak continue to struggle to find their feet and lack consistency.
Aduana will be looking to build on this momentum, while Hearts of Oak desperately need a turnaround to avoid a relegation battle to the end of the season with only four games remaining.