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– Good afternoon and welcome to the Ghana Premier League week 15 fixture between Hears of Oak and Heart of Lions.
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– This is MTNFootball.com’s live text update coming to you live from the Accra Sports. |
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– This is the last round of Premiership games in the first round. After this round, the Premier League goes on a month-break to make way for the Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off on January 21. |
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– This afternoon hosts, Hearts, will be looking to crank up the pressure on leaders Asante Kotoko who are two-points clear at the top. |
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– The Phobians will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after their midweek disappointment against third from bottom club Bechem United. |
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– The visitors themselves will be looking to pull a fast own on Hearts following the midweek disappointment of their onw after playing out a 0-0 draw with Mighty Jets. |
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– Referee Patrick Kyeremanteng will oversee this game, assisted by Sam Borquaye and Michael Fletcher. S.B Bortey serves as this afternoon’s fourth officials. |
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– Let’s see how the teams are lined up this afternoon:
Hearts: Sammy Adjei, Bobie Ansah, Owusu Sefa, Kofi Agyare, Philip Boampong, Attakora Gyimah, Isaac Ofori, Moro Abubakar, Uriah Asante, Douglas Nkrumah and Mahatma Otoo. |
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– Hearts: Sammy Adjei, Bobie Ansah, Owusu Sefa, Kofi Agyare, Philip Boampong, Attakora Gyimah, Isaac Ofori, Moro Abubakar, Uriah Asante, Douglas Nkrumah and Mahatma Otoo. |
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– Subs: Laud Quartey, Pmar Taufic, Samuel Enzemaba, Wilson Andoh, Joseph Tagoe, Theophilus Apoh and Ernest Ackon.
Coach: Nebojsa Vucicevic. |
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– Lions: Joseph Addo, Ofosu Amoah, Avor Prosper, Solomon Addy, Asiamah Badu, Nanitey John, Korbah Smallboy, Anaafi Emmanuel, Gilbert Fiamenyo, Fadi Benjamin and Daniel Acquaye |
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– Subs: Maestro Mensah, Osei Franklyn, Nsiah Bright, Daniel Bonsu, Isaac Donkor, Razak Noah Ofori and Agbeko Pongo.
Coach: Ken Augustt |
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– Both teams are now out to do the pre-match warm-up to a virtually empty stadium. |
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– The teams have been recalled to their respective locker rooms to finalize preparations for the game which is scheduled to kickoff at 15:00 GMT which by the look of things will be delayed. |
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– Teams lined-up in the tunnel ready to make their way onto the pitch led by the match officials. |
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– Hearts spotting their traditional rainbow jersey over yellow shorts and blue hoses while Lions are clad in their blue and burgundy away strip over white hoses. |
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1’ – And we are underway, Lions kicking us off here at the Accra Sports Stadium. |
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2’ – Otoo released on the far side, a glorious opportunity for Hearts..he squares the ball but the danger is cleared. |
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3’ – Asante releases Otoo on the left wing and he gets it back but he is bundled off the ball and referee duly awards a free kick, 15-yards away from the Lions penalty area. |
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4’ – Douglas Nkrumah (Hearts of Oak) scores! |
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– Douglas Nkrumah blasts the kick into the top corner of the net, what a goal!!!!!!!! Nkrumah puts Hearts ahead in just the fourth minute of this game and the stadium is buzzing, Hearts 1-0 Lions. |
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5’ – Ball now with goalkeeper Addo who kick one in to no one in particular and Hearts will regain possession. Looking too easy for the hosts this early and Lions will do well to tighten things up else they could be on the end of a mauling. Hearts looks to be |
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6’ – Nkrumah races with the ball on the left flank but uis unable to beat Avor Porsoper who eventually clears the danger. |
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7’ – Hearts however recovers possession with Moro Abubakar but his cross was way to high for Asante to reach. |
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8’ – Hearts will start another attack from the rear with Attakora Gyimah. |
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9’ – Sefa and Fadi Benjamin in a tussle but referee awards a free kick to the Hearts defender for a tag on his shirt. |
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10’ – Uriah Asante sends in a good cross but Nkrumah fails to control his header which goes over the cross bar. |
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11’ – Solomon Addy goes into the referees book for clipping the heels of Isaac Ofori as he made a dash into the Lions danger area to collect a pass. |
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12’ – Crowd chanting for another goal but the wall did its job well against Nkrumah this time but the rebound falls to Sefa who shoots but goes wide. |
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13’ – John Nanitey is also booked for excessive complaints, the Lions team just can’t cope with the marauding Hearts attack. |
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14’ – Hearts can now hit on the counter after a failed Lions attack but the ball goes out of play for a throw-in, quickly taken by Sefa. |
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15’ – Asante benefits from a defensive blunder in the Lions rear but his attempted shot with his outside foot goals over the bar and Lions can now counter. |
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16’ – Benjamin Fadi (Heart of Lions ) scores! |
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– Fiamenyo holds off three challenges from Hearts’ defence, using his size to great advantage, squares to Benjamin Fadi for a tap in, and he scores. Gooooooooooal!!!!!!!!!! |
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17’ – Benjamin Fadi pulls Lions even and this game all of a sudden is now a contest which holds the prospect of producing a lot of goals. |
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18’ – Play halted as Fadi lays injured on the pitch and is being attended to by the Lions medical team. |
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19’ – Play resumes, ball now with Moro Abubakar who spreads well to Attakora Gyimah but his cross was very poor. |
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20’ – Ball well floated into the Hearts area by Solomon Addy but Fadi Benjamin is flagged offside. |
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21’ – Lions a much more settled side and are now playing some delightful football, ball released to Ofsu Amoah who hits a snap shot but misses narrowly. Lions now looking the more likelier side to score the next goal. |
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22’ – Nkurmah released on the near side by Attakora Gyimah who is found in an unfamiliar midfield position but Nkrumah’s cross was very poor, goal kick to Lions. |
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23’ – Otoo controls well to maintain possession for Hearts but Abubakar fails to hold onto it and now Lions can initiate an attack of their own. |
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24’ – Ball fed through to Fadi but is again flagged offside. The Hearts’ defence clearly holding a high back line. |
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25’ – Lions substitution: Daniel Bonsu is coming on for injured Benjamin Fadi who is in some sort of pain and has been stretched off the pitch. |
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26’ – Hearts resumes play with a throw-in, ball now with Kofi Agyare. |
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27’ – Ball kicked inside but Joseph Addo rushes out to take just off the head of Mahatma Otoo. |
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28’ – Great footwork by Fiamenyo to turn his man neatly inside and he is brought down, Owusu Sefa is booked for that challenge. |
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29’ – Free kick taken towards the far post where Solomon Addy is left unmark but he fails to guide his header goal-wards. |
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30’ – Emmanuel Anaafi races past Boampng who wrestles his man down, he is shown the yelloew card but many reckon is should have been a sending off. |
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31’ – Hearts are now losing their cool and are reserting to just kicking their opponents. |
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32’ – Moro Abubakar passed to Isaac Ofori who faisl to get pass Addy on the far side. |
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33’ – Ofori chips the ball to Nkrumah who tries to give it back but Addy steps in to concede a throw-in. |
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34’ – Hearts still mounting pressure with Ofori who is fouled on the far side. |
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35’ – Nkrumah shockingly was shooting from a staggering 40-yards out, definitely the wrong option as the ball goes way off target. |
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36’ – Gyimah trying to find Sefa in a tight corner but ball is deflected to touch but referee rather gives the throw-in in favour of Lions. |
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37’ – Attakora Gyimah races into the Lions box and is fouled but referee waves play on, fans least amused by the decision. |
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38’ – Corner well taken by Asante towards Boampong at the far post who power-heads goal-wards but is cleared for another corner which is totally wasted. |
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39’ – Referee awards a foul to Hearts taken quickly by Agyare but ball headed out for a throw-in. |
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40’ – Fiamneyo proving to be a mouthful for the Hearts defence as they struggle to take the ball off him. |
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41’ – Shot fired in by Daniel Acquaye which deflects off Agyare but Sammy Adjoe prevents a corner. |
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42’ – Bonsu seems to have beaten Hearts’ offside trap but the referee pulls it back with the lineman flag well raised. |
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43’ – Lions pushing for the lead before the break as they lay siege in the Hearts area. |
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44’ – Great skill by Fiamenyo to go pass Attakora Gyimah and he shoots but parried away by Sammy Adjei who saves the rebound shot of Bonsu to draw applause from the fans. |
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45’ – We will be doing two minutes of stoppage time here as both teams push for the lead. |
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45 + 1’ – Sefa takes the ball calmly off Prosper Avor who dives in with a challenge and is duly yellow carded. |
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45 + 1’ – Ball squared to Ofori but fails to make a correct connection and eventually hits a weak shot. |
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45 + 2’ – Otoo put clear on goal and shoots but Joseph Addo denies him with a save and now Lions can break and what a break it is. Fiamenyo also played clean on goa, just a tap in needed but he drags his sjot wide. Very disappointing. |
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– Referee meanwhile ends the first half of this very entertaining game. Its Hearts of Oak 1- Heart of Lions. |
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45 + 2’ – The referee brings the first half to an end. |
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46’ – Hearts gets us underway and have already conceded possession. |
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47’ – Nkrumah flagged offside much to the dismay of the Hearts faithfuls here. |
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48’ – Hearts to effect a free kick just within their own half to be taken by Phillip Boampong. |
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49’ – Mahatma Otoo (Hearts of Oak) scores! |
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– Ball crossed into Otoo who taps it home. Goooooooaaaaaaallllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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50’ – Mahatma Otoo restores Hearts’ lead but can they hold on to it oreven improve the scoreline? Only time will tell. |
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51’ – Moro busrts into the Lions half and releases to Ofori who gives it to Asante but ball taken off him. |
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52’ – Ofosu Amoah races with the ball on the left flank but great sliding challenge by Boampong to destroy the attack. |
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53’ – Lions substitution: Ofosu Amoah is taken off and will be replaced by Isaac Donkor. |
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54’ – Bobie Ansah chips the ball into Asante but his flick on fails to reach Otoo as Addo comes out to make a clean catch. |
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55’ – Referee awards a free kick against Douglas Nkrumah who tried to retrieve the ball off Smallboy Korbah. |
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56’ – Free kick to Lions about 10-yards off the Hearts penalty box, John Nanitey’s kick is really appalling. |
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57’ – Ball floated into Fiamenyo but referee gives a free kick for backing into Boampong. |
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58’ – Isaac Ofori receives the ball in space and in a good position to send in a good cross but his delivery is very poor. |
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59’ – Addy controls for Asiamah but Uriah Asante pulls him doen to concede a free kick. |
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60’ – Fiamenyo causing a lot of problems in the Hearts penalty area, forces a mistake off Kofi Agyare and Emmanuel Anaafi pounces and scores. Goooooooaaal!!!!!!! |
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60’ – Anaafi Emmanuel (Heart of Lions ) scores! |
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61’ – Lions pull even again from a goal-mouth scuffle initiated by the burly Gilbert Fiamenyo, it is Hearts 1-1 Lions. |
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62’ – Hearts’ coach Vucicevic looks extremely dejected – at a loss at his team’s concession rate in this game. They just can’t find the cure for Fiamenyo’s power and skill. |
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63’ – And there he goes again, Fiamenyo, drawing a foul off Agyare just outside the penalty box. But resulting free kick is totally wasted. |
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64’ – Ball kicked out for a corner to Hearts. |
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65’ – Lions substitution: Franklyn Osei replaces Daniel Acquaye. |
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66’ – Lions really giving this game a good go and are with a chance of taking the lead but Owusu Sefa steps in to clear the danger. |
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67’ – Uriah Asante rashes a tackle and concedes a free kick just on the center line. |
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68’ – Otoo’s inteneded pass to Nkrumah was well read by Asiamah who heads clear but danger still mounting. |
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69’ – Hearts substitution: Ernest Ackon replaces Attakora Gyimah. |
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70’ – Otoo fed through on goal but the ball is knicked of his toes by Asiamah. Corner Hearts. |
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71’ – Ball crossed in with pace by Sefa, ball headed down by Ackon but Ofori’s penalty appeal is very weak. |
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72’ – Hearts still mounting the pressure as Ofori shoots but Asiamah stands in the way to deflect for a corner. |
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73’ – Daniel Bonsu with the ball, is a 3 v 3 situation, Bonsu shoots but was always rising. |
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74’ – Ball played through by Uriah Asante looking for the run of Ackon but ball cleared for a throw-in. |
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75’ – Lions break with pace, ball with Fiamenyo, he twists and turns and releases to Bonsu but he is flagged offside. |
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77’ – Free kick to Hearts in a promising area but Nkrumah shoots straight into the waiting arms of Joseph Addo. |
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78’ – Otoo cuts in from the far flank and shoots but Addo was equal to the task. |
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79’ – Hearts awarded a free kick just five yards away from the Lions penalty area. |
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80’ – Nkrumah shoots but Addo saves for a corner. |
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81’ – Hearts substitution: Isaac Ofori is being replaced by Joseph Tagoe as the corner kick is totally wasted by Hearts. |
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82’ – Ball floated across the face of goal but Otoo’s connection was very weak and now a goal kick for Lions. |
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83’ – Boampong clearly tagging the shirt of Fiamenyo but referee says play on as he eventually loses out on the tussle. |
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84’ – Attakora Gyimah fails to control and concedes a throw to the dismay of the Hearts fans as precious seconds trickle down. |
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85’ – Solomon Addy shields the ball well to win a throw-in to relief his side off the pressure. |
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86’ – Good cross by Fiamenyo but Sefa recovers in time to clear off his initial mistake. |
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87’ – Ken Augustt out to issue instructions from his touchline. |
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88’ – Free kick to Hearts taken by Nkrumah with venom but canons off the cross bar, so unlucky on that occassion. |
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89’ – A Lions player remains on the deck calling for medical treatment, not sure who it is though. |
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90’ – Play resumes and we will be doing four minutes of stoppage time here at the Accra Sports Stadium. |
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90 + 1’ – Ball pumped into the Lions penalty area but Addo comes out to grab. |
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90 + 2’ – Free kick to Hearts 12-yards off the Lions eighteen to be taken by Douglas Nkrumah. His shot goes straight inot the arms of Joseph Addo in the Lions post. |
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90 + 3’ – Nkrumah also goes into the referee book for a late challenge on Asiamah. |
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90 + 4’ – It is all over here at the Accra Sports Stadium. Hearts of Oak have dropped valuable points as they have been held by Heart of Lions in a thrilling 2-2 draw. |
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90 + 4’ – The referee blows the whistle for Full Time. |
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– Hearts’ second-place position on the league log is now under serious threat by the following pack at the end of the 15-round of matches in the Premier League. |
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– The league niow goes on a month's break to make way for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations which starts on January 21. |
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