Hearts of Oak clinched the league and cup double after defeating AshantiGold 8-7 on penalties in the final of the 2020/21 MTN FA Cup on Sunday at the Accra Sports stadium. The game finished goalless in regular time as both sides failed to convert on their opportunities created.
Both teams once again couldn’t be separated in extra time as the game went to a penalty shootout. Amos Addai and David Abagna missed two of of AshantiGold’s first three attempts. Despite Caleb Amankwah missing Hearts’ third penalty, the Phobians nevertheless maintained the advantage.
Both teams scored their fourth penalty and Daniel Barnieh had the chance to win the trophy for the Phobians but his attempt was saved. AshantiGold capitalized and pushed the shootout into further drama. The two sides scored their subsequent attempts as Benjamin Afutu and Seth Osei missed the 10th spot kick. It was the turn of the goalkeepers as Richard Attah became the hero for slotting his penalty home.
Kofi Mensah of AshantiGold went for power and missed the target giving the crown to Hearts of Oak. The Phobians have now won the MTN FA Cup 11 times – more than any other club.
Samuel Boadu accomplishes double dream
He established an objective of winning everything in sight as he sought to inculcate a winning attitude into his players. Boadu managed to take his club from midtable to champions in only four months. The Phobians were virtually flawless in the second round and earned their 21st league championship with 61 points.
After coronation at WAFA, attentions turned to the MTN FA Cup. The Accra-based side asserted their supremacy in the competition once again, allowing only one goal during the campaign. The win means Hearts of Oak have now won the league and cup double on six occasions. The last time they accomplished this feat was in 2000, when they went on to win a continental treble. The groundwork appears to have been developed by Boadu who has changed this Hearts side.
The next stage is for the league winners to make a claim for themselves in Africa.
AshGold’s final drought continues
In 1993, the Miners won the title in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw with Mysterious Dwarfs. This time, things seem like they may break that drought having scored 4 goals in the two successive MTN FA Cup games heading to the final.
The Miners were playing some free flowing football which was still apparent against Hearts in the final. The difference was this time, the Obuasi-based side couldn’t make the correct choices in front of goal. The lack of crispness upfront cost them a second MTN FA Cup triumph. During the shootout, Osei had a golden opportunity in sudden death to make history but he failed to capitalise.
The Miners will aim to return to their next MTN FA cup final with their shooting boots to break this curse.
