MATCH REPORT: Accra Hearts of Oak win an historic double after defeating AshantiGold SC to lift 11th FA Cup title

Accra Hearts of Oak win their 11th FA Cup trophy and their first FA Cup and domestic double since 2000. The two clubs served spectators a thrilling game deserving of a Cup final.

The Phobians defeated AshantiGold 8-7 on a marathon penalty shoot-outs to clinched their eleventh FA Cup trophy at the Accra Sports Stadium The Miners produced a spirited performance in the first half but failed to make an attempt of scoring before the break. Hearts of Oak commenced the game on a good note, it took the intervention of goalkeeper Kofi Mensah to rescue AshantiGold in the first minute after Patrick Razak’s solo run. The Premier League champions had built a threatening situation for the Obuasi based club before the quarters as a header from Benjamin Afutu was denied by the woodwork. AshantiGold SC trio Yaw Annor, Seth Osei and Amos Addai proved to be difficult customers for the Phobians to handle as they kept dazzling but were disastrous upfront. With five minutes to end the first half, Hearts of Oak nearly grabbed the opener from a cross delivered by Caleb Amankwah but AshantiGold skipper Richard Osei Agyemang calmly headed it out from the 18-yard box. This first department of the match ended in a scoreless stalemate at the Accra Sports Stadium. Coach Samuel Boadu lads returned from the tunnel with a different strategy as they staged an intense pressure on the Miners with hopes of opening the score. On the 49th minute, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh nearly gave Hearts of Oak the opener with a header but his effort went futile but a rebound from Caleb Amankwah was blocked. AshantiGold SC were forced to make substitution after Eric Esso had sustained an ankle injury which got him being replaced by David Abagna on the 66th minute  Congolese defender Raddy Ovouka tried his luck with an audacious low-strike which nearly gave him a goal with the deflected shot was saved by Mensah. The entire duration of the game failed to produced the winner as the fixture headed into thirty minutes extra-time to know the champion. The extra-time was another exciting moment for the both sides as they thwarted every inroads from each other to avoid conceding. It was marathon penalty shoot-outs which saw all the twenty-two players who featured taking part but goalkeeper Kofi Mensah’s strike from the spot denied AshantiGold SC from winning the FA Cup title.