MATCH REPORT: Isaac Mensah’s late strike earn Hearts of Oak vital point in Bibiani
Substitute Isaac Mensah came off the bench to score on the 90+8 minute to secure a 1-1 stalemate for Hearts of Oak against Bibiani GoldStars in an epic GPL match-week 21 clash at the Dun’s Park.
Coach Michael Osei started goalkeeper Joseph Baah in goal after being out for sometime now due to Injury. Experience figures like Farouk Adams, Appiah McCarthy, Laar Ibrahim all made the starting line up.
Coach David Ocloo made two changes from the team that won the SUPER-CLASH last week, with Eric Ofori Antwi and Rashid Okine coming in for Richmond Ayi and Dennis Korsah.
GoldStars started on a higher note, having opened the scoring account through left back Evans Owusu who scored a beauty in just four minutes from kickoff.
Hearts of Oak from then took total control of the game with lots of goal attempts made but had most of their efforts checked by the GoldStars backline.
In the second half, the ‘Phobians’ attacked right from onset in search for the leveller but Kwadwo Obeng’s hit on the 51st minute that was directed on target got blocked once again.
The Miners looked really well organized and also on top of their game, having most of the chants from the stands going in their favour and did all they could to preserve their lead.
The visitors with a chance to level things up but Cameroonian attacker Albert Dieudonne had his effort went wide for a restart.
On the 58th minute, the homesters came close to doubling their lead but Appiah McCarthy had his free kick dealt with nicely by Eric Ofori Antwi.
Hearts of Oak appealed for a penalty on the 73rd after a ball appeared to have hit the hand of an opposing player in the box but the referee wasn’t interested and waved play on.
Just and when the host thought they were winning, substitute Isaac Mensah scored to get his side back on level with a header from Ibrahim Salifu’s free kick, after just six minutes from his introduction. It ended 1-1 after full time in Bibiani.
GoldStars missed out narrowly on the top four once again having failed to snatch maximum points, whiles Hearts of Oak continue to lurk on the 4th position with 31 points.
Source Kickgh
