AshantiGold registered their second win in 11 games following a 1-0 win over Hearts of Oak at the Len Clay Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Midfielder Amos Addai converted a last-gasp penalty to hand the vital win to the Miners side guided by 30-year-old French tactician Roman Fotz.
Defender Fatawu Mohammed handled the ball inside the box but only after the ball had come off his body – a situation which is not a penalty under the new FIFA rules.
Hearts players protested vehemently against the decision but the center referee and his assistants would have none of that.
Hearts coach Samuel Boadu succumbed to his first loss at the helm while Hearts’ title fight have suffered a big set-back.
Hearts were presented with a glorious opportunity to take the lead on the 17th minute when the center referee awarded a penalty kick to the Phobians.
Attack Patrick Razak was felled inside the box after he latched onto a pass from Abdul Manaf Umar. Defender Samed Mohammed clipped the pacey winger and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot for Hearts’ second straight penalty of the season.
Penalty expert Victor Aidoo elected himself and deviated from his known penalty technique as he went for placement instead of power leaving Kofi Mensah to make a save. For the former Karela United glovesman it becomes his second penalty save in two games on a trot after he prevented Diawusie Taylor from scoring from the spot during their matchday 18 clash.
After Hearts’ penalty miss AshantiGold came into the game strongly and should have punished the Phobians when Kusi Brokelyn found himself unmarked inside the area with an inviting cross but he managed to head the ball away from goal.
The Miners attempted a couple of times to get the ball into the lead but were stopped by the Hearts defence.
