Ten-Man Hearts of Oak Extend Winning Streak with Narrow Victory Over Legon Cities
Accra Hearts of Oak secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Legon Cities FC in an exciting Ghana Premier League (GPL) Matchweek 16 opener at the University of Ghana Stadium.
The decisive moment of the game came courtesy of Ramzy Yussif, whose impressive strike in the dying minutes of the first half proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The match began with Legon Cities dominating proceedings, utilizing their width effectively to put the Hearts defense under constant pressure. Despite their early dominance, the Royals failed to capitalize on their chances.
Hearts of Oak came close in the 15th minute with a promising team move that saw the ball delivered to Kwame Boateng at the far post, but he was unable to connect.
Moments later, the Phobians appealed for a penalty after Mohammed Alidu was brought down in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Legon Cities also had a golden opportunity through Kamal Suraje, whose powerful effort was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Hearts’ goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.
Just before the halftime whistle, Ramzy Yussif displayed individual brilliance, shaking off two defenders and firing a precise shot past Legon Cities’ goalkeeper Kwame Aziz to give Hearts a crucial lead.
The second half saw Hearts of Oak start strongly, creating dangerous opportunities in search of a second goal. Legon Cities regrouped and pushed forward in search of an equalizer but struggled to penetrate the resolute Hearts defense.
In the 84th minute, Hearts were reduced to ten men after Emmanuel Amankwah received a second yellow card. Despite being a man down, the Phobians remained solid at the back and held on to secure the victory.
The win propels Hearts of Oak to second place on the league table with 28 points after 16 matches, bolstering their title aspirations. Meanwhile, Legon Cities remain rooted at the bottom of the table with just 11 points, deepening their relegation concerns.
Hearts of Oak will hope to extend their winning streak in their next fixture, while Legon Cities must find answers to turn their fortunes around as the season progresses.