Martin Karikari's moment of magic gave Hearts of Oak a third straight win and the Ghana Premier League summit after a 1-0 grind against Basake Holy Stars.
Hearts of Oak are top of the Ghana Premier League. A moment of class from Martin Karikari gave the Phobians a 1-0 win over Basake Holy Stars at the University of Ghana Stadium on Friday, their third league victory in a row.
The result extends a strong run under head coach Nebojša Kapor. Hearts came into Week 8 having already beaten Vision FC and FC Port City, and they played like a side determined to keep that momentum going and put the pressure on their title rivals.
The hosts controlled large stretches of the match and had far the better of the chances, with 17 shots to the visitors' seven. Basake Holy Stars defended in numbers, stayed compact and looked to hit on the counter whenever Hearts gave them room. Ransford Mensah came closest early on, when his powerful free-kick smashed against the post.
Karikari finally broke the stubborn resistance with a piece of individual quality that settled a tight contest. It was the kind of decisive contribution title-chasing teams need on days when the game refuses to open up.
With the three points, Hearts now sit at the head of the table. The question is whether Kapor's side can keep this form going as the pressure at the top builds.
