Defending league and FA Cup champions, Hearts of Oak shrugged off a week six outstanding defeat to Medeama to whitewash Eleven Wonders 4-1 in week 13 on Sunday.
Coach Samuel Boadu rang several changes to the squad that lost 1-0 to the Mauve and Yellow at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa last Wednesday in the 2021/22 league season. The 21 time Ghana champions had their noses in front with just 19 minutes on the clock after midfielder, Salim Adams cracked a long range effort behind Wonders goalkeeper, Joseph Baah. The slim lead stood, moving into the first half break. Hearts of Oak returned for the second session hungrier than the first with two more goals.
Burly striker, Kofi Kordzi, who returned from illness after missing the 1-0 week 12 victory against Gold Stars and the outstanding loss to Medeama, headed his sixth goal of the season and the club’s second on the day from Salifu Ibrahim’s 48th minute cross. The well built forward was in line for his brace and his seventh goal of the term after slotting home from the penalty spot to peg Hearts of Oak 3-0 up at 53 minutes. AFCON U-20 winning captain, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh who earned Kofi Kordzi’s penalty, placed himself in a better position for Salifu Ibrahim’s well laid pass of which he perfectly iced the score line to 4-0 on the 62nd minute. The visitors would not want to return home without a goal with Tetteh Nortey displacing Hearts keeper, Richmond Ayi from the spot after substitute, Caleb Amankwah had fouled Ernest Mwuankurinah on the 84th minutes. It ended 4-1 for Hearts of Oak whose coach, Samuel Boadu spoke after the resounding victory.
“It was a good game, both teams, they have a very good coach, their composure, their possession is very good. “But my boys did well, they listened to the instructions and they worked towards the system that we wanted to play and the chances that we created, this is what we expected from them so the moment you create chances you make sure you put it in the net. “During the first half, we had to study them and know their strength and their weaknesses and how they should be calm and possess. “If they are in a rush, they will squander all the chances so they have to be calm and composed so that they can score more goals,” Samuel Boadu told StarTimes.
Samuel Boadu has praised the thundering strike by midfielder, Salim Adams which broke the deadlock. “It [the goal] was perfect, that’s his hallmark.” Samuel Boadu added. Hearts of Oak have now climbed into 6th position with 20 points from 12 games. They have a tough job in February in a week seven outstanding clash against arch rivals, Asante Kotoko.
