A late stupendous strike from substitute Raphael Amponsah secured Hearts of Oak their first away win of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season against Accra Lions on Tuesday afternoon.
Hearts of Oak extended their unbeaten streak against Accra Lions after recording a 2-1 victory in their match-week eleven encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Hearts of Oak faced their regional neighbors with interim coach Abdul Rahim Bashiru, who has been asked to take charge of the first team duties after Danish trainer Martin Koopman was sacked by the club citing team's poor performance last Friday.
The Phobians commenced the match with an intense pressure on the back line of Accra Lions to concede in the early minutes of the game through Hamza Issah's header.
Young forward Hamza Issah opened the score for Hearts of Oak when he leaped ahead of the Accra Lions defenders to connect a free-kick effected by Salifu Ibrahim into the back of the net.
Hearts of Oak came close to double their lead through Glid Otanga but his header went off target in the 15th minute of the game.
Accra Lions took over possession to dominate the remaining minutes of the game and their output earned them the leveller when Abass Salifu Samari's strike deflated off Kofi Agbesimah to go past goalkeeper Richmond Ayi.
Yahaya Mohammed failed to register his name on the score sheet for Accra Lions in the 36th minute when he fired wide from a close range.
Hearts were forced to make a substitution when Amankwah Baafi limped off in the 41st minute which aided Evans Adomako to earn minutes.
The first half of the game ended in a one-all draw at Accra Sports Stadium.
Hearts of Oak made a tactical switch in the second half which ensured them the match-winner in the dying embers of the game.
Coach Rahim Bashiru twerked his tactical approach in the second half with the introduction of Raphael Amponsah, Leviticus Attur and Linda Mtange as replacements for Martin Karikari, Dennis Korsah and Enoch Asubonteng respectively.
Accra Lions were under pressure as Hamza Issah and Salifu Ibrahim kept dazzling their way through for the match-winner before the hour-mark but goalkeeper Daniel Afful denied them from scoring.
Substitute Raphael Amponsah snatched all the three maximum points for Hearts of Oak with a spectacular strike in the 86th minute of the game.
The victory has aided Hearts of Oak to end their three-game winless run and extended unbeaten streak tonight matches.
Hearts of Oak have moved up to 9th position with 15 points while Accra Ghana lies 14th with 13 points after match-week 11 of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season.
