ASR Bamako is not a free-scoring team but they were able to put three past Accra Hearts of Oak on Saturday.
Last season in all competitions they managed to score 2 to 3 goals in not more than three matches. This goal-shy club was able to beat the Phobians by three goals in one match. Bamako’s back four are very solid and tough in tackling. The way Hearts of Oak conceded the three goals should give any Phobian a sleepless night.
The mistakes committed by the MTN FA Cup holders were very basic and the technical team will see all the mistakes during their review of the encounter.
Bamako was not so extraordinary for Hearts of Oak to concede such goals on a big stage. Hearts of Oak currently are having a bad run on the continent. The Phobians conceded 6-0 away at WAC, 4-0 at JS Sauora, and now 3-0 at ASR Bamako. The total score is 13 goals conceded in their last three games in Africa.
The most shocking aspect is also the lack of goals in the Hearts of Oak team currently which will make the plan to score four in the second leg very difficult.
Hearts of Oak have overturned big scores before but this current setup is not like the squads that came back from first-leg defeats to progress.
One reminder ahead of the second leg is that the ASR Bamako team is a well-drilled side, especially the back four.
Ghana’s representatives in Africa this season Asante Kotoko (CAF Champions League) and Hearts of Oak (Confederations Cup) have all failed to deliver. Some pundits have urged the GFA to quickly meet all the clubs to find a lasting solution to the poor performance in Africa.