Hearts-Lions Top-four clash abandoned during shoot-outs due to extreme darkness

Published on: 03 September 2014
Hearts-Lions Top-four clash abandoned during shoot-outs due to extreme darkness
Hearts' clash with Lions was abandoned

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

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Accra Hearts of Oak and Heart of Lions will have to head for a rematch probably on Thursday after they were forced to abandon their GHALCA Top-four clash on Wednesday evening due to extreme darkness at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Match Commissioner on duty signalled to the center referee to end the game around 18:14 GMT as floodlights at the stadium are not working.

The game kicked off at 16:00 GMT per the organisers decision and that obviously did not help the course of the game as floodlights are the stadium are known not to be working.

The disgraceful incident has once again highlighted Ghana's poor stadium facilities maintenance and management.

Fans who were enjoying a thrilling game that saw both sides convert four of their five penalty kicks had to hold on their expectations and wait for another day where the fixture will be replaced.

Youngster Maxwell Boakye had given Hearts fans a scare when he crashed his kick into the crossbar despite being offered the opportunity to retake after Lions keeper Mozart Adjetey was adjudged to have overstepped the line and saved his kick.

Former Asante Kotoko defender John Kufour follow suit by missing his kick. Lanky midfielder Kwame Kizito netted for Hearts and Badu Asiamah's beautiful conversion marked the end of the clash.

The Phobians fans on attendance responded with colossal cheers when Ivorian striker Ahmed Toure showed up from the dug-out to warm up. Toure, who played for Hearts' bitterest' rivals Asante Kotoko four seasons ago, joined on Monday as a trialist and was thrown into the game to replace misfit Gilbert Fiamenyo.

Claiming the opener for Hearts was a big statement from the talented attacker but it took a double change infected by Herbert Addo to bring that goal.

New-boy Kwame Kizito who had replaced Kofi Abanga in midfield, laid an acute pass for Toure and he exercised his right to shoot by powering home to level the scoring to 1-1 on aggregate.

In response to his promise to the Phobian fans, he kissed the Rainbow crest and punched the air in jubilation.

Hearts continued to dominate and took the game to Lions in the remainder of the time.

Herbert Addo's concerns about his striking options resurfaced again as striker Gilbert Fiamenyo proved clueless upfront, wasting valuable and precious chances created by Cobbinah and Abanga.

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