Accra Hearts of Oak’s 2023 season got off to a bad start when Bechem United defeated them 2-1 on matchday 10 of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) at the Cape Coast Stadium.
The Phobians, who were without some of its top players, failed to put up a strong performance for their supporters who traveled to the Cape Coast Stadium, their designated match location, to see the game.
As Richmond Ayi failed to stop Kofi Mantey, Bechem United took the lead in the sixth minute as he scooped up a defense-splitting goal.
After the Hearts of Oak defense fell asleep, Hafiz Konkoni doubled the Hunters’ lead seven minutes later by slamming the ball into the waiting nets.
The Phobians, who were competing at home, fought hard to score but were unsuccessful.
Amankwa Baafi, Benjamin Yorke, and Obeng Jr. all had scoring opportunities but were unlucky not to convert.
In a contentious turn of events, Enock Asubonteng was controversially dismissed in the 85th minute, reducing Hearts of Oak to 10 men. A yellow card was shown by the official before being replaced by a red one.
Many were astonished by the referee’s decision because this was the player’s first card of the contest.
Later, in order to make both teams consist of 10 players, the referee dismissed Joseph Kinful of Bechem United for time-wasting. Kinful had already received one yellow card throughout the contest.
Hearts of Oak was able to get one back in the waning moments of the game through defender Robert Addo Sowah, but there was not enough time to even the score as the referee called time shortly after.
Slavko Matic, the coach of Hearts of Oak, suffered his first loss since taking over the organization. He went six games without losing.
