Soulama error gifts Kotoko win over Hearts of Oak

A miskick by Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama gave Kumasi Asante Kotoko a 1-0 win over their fiercest rivals in Accra on Monday.

Soulama was then sent off in the second half for a challenge outside the box, reducing the Phobians to ten-men after Kotoko’s Tuffour Frimpong was sent off in the first period.

The win takes Kotoko up to ninth while Hearts missed the chance to go above Wa All Stars to the top of the league.

Ahead of the game, the Phobians were touted as the favourites as they had only lost once all season.
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Tuffour Frimpong was sent off for Kotoko

Kotoko on the other hand have endured a slow start to the campaign, losing four of their opening nine games.

However, their record in Accra gave their fans some hope ahead of the tie – the Porcupine Warriors were unbeaten in their last 5 games against Hearts at the Accra Sports Stadium and had conceded only 5 goals.
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The match started with Kotoko bossing possession but it was Hearts who had the best chances, first hitting the post from a set piece and forcing Ernest Sowah into a good save.

It seemed a matter of when not if Hearts would score and that task seemed to have been made much easier when Tuffour Frimpong was sent off for Kotoko after picking up two yellow cards for fouls on Isaac Mensah.

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Rather than let their heads drop, Kotoko pushed on until a back pass to Soulama was sliced into his own net by the goalkeeper to give the Porcupine Warriors the lead at the break.

Hearts came out flying in the second half with Cosmos Dauda flashing a shot wide.

The Phobians were dictating play with Kotoko content to sit back, let them have the ball and hit them on the counter.
It was a day to forget for Soulama as his error led to Kotoko’s goal after which he was sent off

It was a day to forget for Soulama as his error led to Kotoko’s goal after which he was sent off

However Hearts’ search for an equaliser was made even more difficult when Soulama, the villain of the piece, charged out of the box to take out Dauda Mohammed.

Soulama was sent off and his replacement, Ahurugu did well to turn the free-kick away for a corner.

Hearts barely had a chance after that, the best falling to Cosmos Dauda who met a cross on the volley in the box but hit it wide, when it looked much easier to score.

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Kotoko will hope this win will give them a boost to kickstart their season as they host Ebusua Dwarfs next.

Hearts will look to bounce back next weekend at Berekum Chelsea. /#sthash.PsBzLOs1.dpuf