Asante Kotoko managed to win 5-4 on penalties over Hearts of Oak to secure qualification to the finals of the NC Special Competition Tier One after a 1-1 stalemate.
The game which could be described as one of the best games played by the two sides in so many years left the Phobians disappointed despite staging a wonderful game.
The influence of the two gaffers, Kim Grant and CK Akonnor was greatly felt on the game as every step and decision taken on the field, was guided by tactical bearings.
But before we look at how Asante Kotoko managed to win the game over Hearts, let’s look at the line ups of both sides.
Hearts of Oak XI and static formation (4-2-3-1)
Benjamin Mensah (GK)
Christopher Bonney William Dankyi Robert Addo Alhassan Mohammed
Alhassan Aminu Benjamin Afutu
Fatawu Mohammed Manaf Umar Obeng Junior
Joseph Esso
Asante Kotoko XI and static formation (4-1-3-2)
Danlad Ibrahim (GK)
Augustine Sefa Evans Owusu Wahab Adams Abdul Ganiu
Amos Frimpong
Emmanuel Gyamfi Kwame Bonsu Kwame Boahene
Naby Kieta Abdul Fatawu Safiu
From the static formations of the two teams, clearly the intent of both coaches could be seen.
Kim Grant wanted to provide much more protection for his back four hence having Aminu and Afutu in deep defensive roles while giving Manaf a playmaker role.
Bonney was to stay deep to hold Emmanuel Gyamfi as his fluidity on the flanks would have been a huge addition for the Kotoko team, while Denkyi was to be the lethal weapon of the Hearts with his beautiful crosses and swift runs on the left flank.
With Kotoko, Amos Frimpong – perhaps the most intelligent player on the day for Kotoko – was deployed to pull the breaks on Manaf as he was to be the engine of the Hearts team.
Emmanuel Gyamfi was to exploit the space that is always created behind Bonney when he moves forward to effect his dangerous crosses but that role was partly truncated because Gyamfi did not get enough supplies despite Bonney surging forward without caution.
The midfield of both teams looked combative but for the lazy role played by Kwadwo Obeng Jnr who could not pose any danger for Asante Kotoko.
Kwame Bonsu was as usual placed in front of Amos to be the link between the defenders and attack but his role was poorly executed as he only held the ball and failed to give long and penetrating passes and this explains why Gyamfi was not getting enough supplies.
Kwame Boahene was given a more defensive role to play as a midfielder than being more offensive due to the danger William Denkyi posed.
Perhaps, many saw the swift winger not being so creative and dangerous for Kotoko in the game but the role he was given explains everything.
The defensive organisation of Kotoko was solid throughout the game and must be applauded for getting the Porcupine Warriors to the finals.
Ganiu and Wahab kept it closer to Esso and while Amos had closed down Manaf, Esso panted for space because the supplies hardly came and he could do little.
But this changed in the second half when Hearts changed to 4-3-3.
Evans Owusu stayed deep without attacking reducing the danger of Fatawu Mohammed while Sefa had the luxury of attacking occasionally because Obeng Jnr was threat-less.
Abdul Fatawu Safiu and Naby Keita saw little of the game. Fatawu was expected to play right behind Keita and fill the gap between the midfield and the center forward but little was seen of the two players.
After the opener, Aminu and Afutu woke up from their slumber and kept it close on Fatawu. Keita was completely out of the game.
The second half of the game saw a completely different Hearts of Oak with Kim Grant switching from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3.
In his new system, Kofi Kordzie and Abubakar Traore were introduced for Obeng Jnr and Fatawu Mohammed to introduce fluidity to the Hearts attack and rightly so, the Phobians became more attacking minded, pushing the Porcupine Warriors to their own half.
While attempting to do that, Kim Grant had already introduced Malik Akowuah for Manaf, clearly registering his intentions of strengthening his midfield and unleashing the deadly attackers on Kotoko.
So in midfield, Hearts had the defensive midfielders – Akowuah, Aminu and Afutu – with no creativity but that was for a purpose and it worked.
CK Akonnor, while leading got his substitutions wrong, perhaps not entirely wrong but the players introduced did not execute their roles well.
All were thinking Habib Mohammed would have come a bit earlier ahead of Jordan but he came too little too late.
Stephen Nyarko and Jordan Opoku appeared to have Jo business in the game.
Clearly, while Hearts were going for rocky midfielders to hold the team for the attackers to get a field day, Kotoko went for a direct opposite.
Nyarko and Jordan are ball jugglers so CK knew they would neutralise the Hearts midfield but the two players failed to live up to the billing.
The score line after regulation time was a perfect reflection of the game as the two managers traded punches which nearly dazed off CK Akonnor but he recovered right on time.