Hearts of Oak put an end to their two-game winless run with a crucial 1-0 victory over Heart of Lions at the University of Ghana Stadium in the match day 19 opener of the Ghana Premier League.
The opening ten minutes saw both teams evenly matched, focusing on possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances.
Heart of Lions had a promising opportunity in the 20th minute when Kwesi Pong rose above a cluster of defenders, but his final shot took a deflection and went wide. Nine minutes later, Hearts of Oak’s Hamza Issah found himself in a great position to break the deadlock but fired wide—a major missed opportunity.
As the first half neared its end, the hosts came close again, with Mawuli Wayo’s powerful strike hitting the upright.
Early in the second half, Hearts of Oak were awarded a penalty after Stephen Appiah Asare was fouled in the box. Mawuli Wayo stepped up and coolly sent goalkeeper Lawrence Osei the wrong way, netting the first goal of matchday 19.
Heart of Lions almost responded immediately, as Kwesi Pong cut inside from the right, but his effort was well blocked by Samuel Amofa. The visitors piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer, frequently advancing into the final third but failing to find the finishing touch.
In the 76th minute, Hamza Issah made a dangerous run down the right flank and fired a low shot that Osei initially struggled to handle before it was eventually cleared.
The match ended 1-0 in favor of Hearts of Oak, who are now back to winning ways. With 33 points, they have climbed back into the top four and will next face Bechem United away.
Meanwhile, Heart of Lions will aim to bounce back when they host Dreams FC in their next fixture.
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