Premier League Debutants Basake Holystars Stun Hearts of Oak with Historic Victory
In a remarkable start to their Premier League journey, debutants Basake Holystars stunned 21-time Ghana Premier League champions, Accra Hearts of Oak, with a 1-0 victory at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The win marks a historic moment for Holystars, securing three points in their first-ever top-flight match.
The decisive moment came early in the game when Prince Tweneboah gave Holystars the lead in just the 3rd minute. A well-timed header from Tweneboah found the back of the net, putting the visitors in front and setting the tone for a challenging afternoon for Hearts of Oak.
Holystars’ relentless pressure forced Hearts into making aggressive tackles, leading to two yellow cards before the 20th minute.
The Phobians struggled to find their rhythm and were forced into rare first-half substitutions, with Salim Adams making way for Mohammed Husein, and Ahmed Ramzy replaced by Collinson.
As Hearts piled on the pressure towards the end of the first half, Holystars’ goalkeeper pulled off a fantastic save to deny the Phobians an equalizer just before the halftime whistle.
In the second half, Holystars made an early change, bringing on Ben Sidibe for the injured Aboagye Da Costa.
Hearts of Oak responded with substitutions of their own, introducing Stephen Appiah and Isaac Frimpong for Mawuli Wayo and Asamoah Afriyie Boateng respectively. Despite these changes, the Phobians continued to struggle in front of goal.
Holystars made further substitutions, bringing on fresh legs to defend their slim lead, while Hearts introduced Martin Karikari in a bid to rescue the game.
However, despite growing into the match in the dying moments, Hearts of Oak lacked the clinical finishing needed to equalize.
Holystars’ defense stood firm under immense pressure, holding on to their one-goal advantage to seal a famous victory. The 1-0 win over Hearts of Oak not only marks a historic debut for the newcomers but also serves as a statement of intent for their campaign in the Ghana Premier League.
For Hearts of Oak, the loss will be a wake-up call as they look to regroup and recover in their upcoming fixtures. Meanwhile, Basake Holystars will be celebrating a dream start to life in the top division.