Kotoko Delivers Christmas Joy to Asanteman with 1-0 Victory Over Hearts After NPP Defeat
Albert Amoah’s Last-Minute Strike Secures Fourth Straight Win in Thrilling Encounter
- Albert Amoah scored in added time after a rare blunder by Hearts defender Osei Assibey
- The victory marks Kotoko’s fourth consecutive triumph over their rivals
- The win lifted spirits in the Ashanti Region after the NPP's electoral defeat to the NDC
In what was billed as a thrilling encounter between Ghana’s two most celebrated football clubs, Asante Kotoko delivered a late Christmas gift to their fans by edging out rivals Accra Hearts of Oak with a dramatic 1-0 victory.
The match, played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, came just days after the nation’s tense general elections that saw the opposition NDC defeat the ruling NPP on December 7.
The encounter lived up to its billing as a classic, with both sides showing remarkable grit and determination.
Hearts of Oak, led by their star defender Osei Assibey, were solid at the back for most of the game. Assibey was a towering presence, thwarting numerous Kotoko attacks and earning applause from even the partisan Kotoko faithful.
However, football has a way of rewriting narratives. In the dying embers of the game, deep into the five minutes of added time signaled by referee Daniel Laryea, a costly mistake by Osei Assibey turned the tide.
A moment of indecision in clearing a routine ball allowed Kotoko’s Albert Amoah to pounce. Amoah, who had been quiet for most of the game, displayed his predator’s instinct, slotting the ball past Hearts’ goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to send the home crowd into raptures.
The goal was enough to seal Kotoko’s fourth consecutive victory over their archrivals, a streak that has firmly established their dominance in recent matchups.
The jubilant scenes at the Baba Yara Stadium were reminiscent of a festive celebration, as fans sang and danced in the red-and-white colors of Asanteman.
The win provided much-needed solace for Kotoko fans and the Ashanti Region at large, who were still reeling from the NPP’s electoral defeat.
“This victory is more than football; it’s a reminder that we always rise, no matter the odds,” a passionate fan said after the match.
For Hearts of Oak, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after Osei Assibey’s earlier heroics
Asante Kotoko’s victory has set the tone for a joyous Christmas celebration in Kumasi and across the Ashanti Region. For their fans, this win was more than three points; it was a testament to their unyielding spirit and a perfect way to end a dramatic year.
