Martin Karikari's late volley sealed a 1-0 win for Hearts of Oak, and Black Meteors coach Desmond Ofei liked what he saw from the stands.
Ghana's Black Meteors boss Desmond Ofei got a front-row look at the domestic talent pool on Friday, and Hearts of Oak gave him plenty to talk about. The Phobians beat Basake Holy Stars 1-0 in the Ghana Premier League at the University of Ghana Stadium.
Ofei was at the match as part of his player monitoring ahead of Ghana's U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. His verdict was simple: an enjoyable game, and a deserved win for Hearts. He pointed out that the Phobians created most of the chances, even if their finishing let them down for long spells.
Then came the moment that settled it. Attacking midfielder Martin Karikari struck late with a superb volley, rewarding the home side's pressure at exactly the right time. Ofei said the goal was a beauty and that the fans loved it.
Basake Holy Stars made life hard for Hearts. They stayed compact at the back and looked to hurt the Phobians on the counter, which kept the contest tight until Karikari's decisive strike.
The win stretches Hearts' winning run to three games, following earlier victories over FC Port City and Vision FC. They now sit on 17 points, level with leaders Medeama but second on goal difference, which makes this early-season title race one to watch.
