Hearts slice RTU to size

Defending League champions, Accra Hearts of Oak continued with their recent impressive run with a 2-0 win over visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra in the last match of the first round of the Glo Premier League on Saturday. Hearts scored in each half from new sensation, Mahatma Otoo to pick the three maximum points at stake, which also aided them to jump to the third spot on the League table with 27 points. The gaols came after the two sides had engaged in a fierce battle in the first 30 minutes of the game in search of the opener with Hearts carrying the game to their opponents goal area. With Hearts for players, Dan Coleman and Hassan Mohammed mounting a solid barrier in the RTU defence, it was became a hot warfare between them and the Hearts striking force of Eric Gawu, Otoo and Samuel Affum. Hearts however triumphed when they scored the first goal in the 37th minute through Otoo who headed home a Hamza Abdulai's free-kick from the blind side of goalie John Adjetey in post for RTU. RTU failed to give any quick response to the challenge as they had their often counter-attacks thwarted by Hearts central defence pair of Karim Alhassan and Osei Bonsu. The score line remained same till the close of the half but the second half saw a more aggressive RTU side fighting to redeem their image but were denied a goal as a result of their inability to break through Hearts defence. Hearts on the other hand created more scoring chances which fell on the path of Abdulai, Gawu and Douglass Nkrumah who wasted them. The entire stadium was however stunned in the 58th minute when Otoo delivered a spectacular strike from near the midfield straight into goal to increase Hearts tally to two. Otoo picked up a pass from Gawu before dislodging RTU's captain Mohammed Baker off the ball before delivering a volley from way outside the box which hit the roof of the net before dropping into the goal post for the second goal. RTU could have levelled the scores later on but Karim Sadat on two occasions with only keeper Laud Quartey to beat blasted off the two glorious opportunities in the 62nd and 63rd minutes of the game, whilst substitute Sumaila Nyanya also messed up another chance in the 78th minute. Hearts also had several goal scoring opportunities in the last ten minutes of the game but seemed to be content with the 2-0 score line till the final whistle.