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Kotoko share the spoils with Hearts

The much anticipated fixture of the second round ended one all at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Sunday.

Kwame Boateng snatched the opener for the hosts in the first half, before Patrick Razak brought Hearts of Oak level.

Two touches of the ball from the Kotoko goal area resulted the match opener: Richard Osei Agyemang long ball found Emmanuel Gyamfi who shot from long range, but Soulama Abdoulaye in post for Hearts of Oak produced a nice save, however his defenders failed to clear the ball from the dangerous area and Kwame Boateng who was hovering in the Hearts 18-yard box scored from the rebound in the 18 minute.

Patrick Razak, after his side had gone down by a goal, outsmarted the Kotoko defence to move into an empty space, but his attempt flew over the cross bar.

The tempo of the game went down, after Asante Kotoko took the lead.

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In the 36 minute Ernest Sowah could have been punished for kicking the ball to the wrong person, but Samudeen Ibrahim, who was gifted with the ball shot it wide to give the Porcupine Warriors a big sigh of relief.

Two minutes later Samudeen Ibrahim in a move to take on Richard Osei Agyemang was brought down. Patrick Razak wasted the resultant freekick.

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Patrick Razak set the stadium alight, when he neatly finished off from a Leonard Tawiah's cross to bring Hearts of Oak into the game eight minutes into the second half.

The Phobians could have gone infront in the 64 minute, but Eric Kumi’s shot was blocked by the defence men of Kotoko.

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The former, Tamale Utrecht youngster, Razak was a thorn in the flesh of Kotoko defenders  throughout the game and was frequently fouled.

The consistent fouls on Hearts of Oak skillful youngsters, compelled Coach Sergio Traguil to lose his cool, after Samudeen had been brought down.

Dauda Mohammed, who joined the team later, after he had featured for the Black Satellites on Friday, couldn’t rise to the occasion due to tiredness and was consequently replaced by Seidu Bancey in the 75th minute.

Inusah Musah also came on for Samuel Yeboah and Paul Acquah took over from Isaac Mensah.

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Patrick Razak produced another moment of brilliance when he pounced on a loose ball and struck a ball that almost took Ernest Sowah by surprise, but it missed the post by few inches.

In late minutes of the game, Asante Kotoko, lost the midfield battle to Hearts of Oak, welcoming pressure on them.

Substitute Paul Acquah should have been the hero of the evening when Inusah Musah put him through, however, shot the ball into the side net.

Asante Kotoko attack collapsed completely in the second half, failing to cause any threat in the Hearts of Oak goal area.

Ernest Sowah was the saviour of Asante Kotoko, as he made a good save on a one on one situation with Inusah Musah.

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However, the game failed to produce any more goals.

Hearts of Oak are still the only side without an away defeat, (W5, D7).

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