Floodlight failure at Accra Sports Stadium forced Wednesday’s GHALCA Top 4 clash between Kpando Heart of Lions and Accra Hearts of Oak to be called off in the middle of a tie-breaking penalty shoot-out.
Although Hearts earned a lone goal victory yesterday, the two-leg tie ended in 1-1 on aggregate following Lions’ 1-0 win last Saturday, requiring a shoot-out to determine which side qualifies for the final on Sunday.
Referee William Agbovi called off the game at a time when both sides had missed a spot kick each after five kicks.
The Phobians, who wasted many scoring opportunities, were spared their blushes in the 68th minute when substitute Ahmed Simba Toure scored from a Kwame Kizito cross to force the game into penalties.
In the first half, Hearts coach Herbert Addo was left frustrated by a resolute Lions’ defence and poor finishing by his strikers, particularly Gilbert Fiamenyo.
The clearest scoring chance fell to unmarked Emmanuel Hayford in the 32nd minute after receiving a brilliant pass from Winful Cobbinah but the midfielder shot wide.
Hearts dominated the early stages of the second half and deservedly earned their goal, after launching a series of attacks on goalie Mozart Adjetey’s goal area. They came close to winning the two-leg tie in the 82nd minute when substitute Maxwell Boakye shot wide from close range with only Lions’ goalkeeper Adjetey at his mercy.
During the penalty shootout, Boakye again deepened Hearts frustration after missing the fourth kick, with teammates Robin Gnagne, Cobbinah and Isaac Oduro converting their kicks; Lions’ John Kuffour missed his kick after Samuel Yeboah, Prince Acquah and Gyawu Baffour had converted from the spot.
At the height of their excitement, the fans were left bewildered when referee Agbovi waved the sides off the pitch because of poor visibility. That was shortly after Kwame Kizito of Hearts and Badu Asiamah of Lions had scored to tie the shootout at 4-4.
Credit: graphiconline.com
