In-form Accra Hearts of Oak are poised to maintain top spot in the Ghana Premier League after their match day 22 clash with AshGold at the Accra Sports Stadium in an encounter which promises to be uncompromising.
The Phobians after 21 games are leading the league table with 38 points whilst the defending league champions are at the 11 position with 25 points.
Hearts of Oak after earning a well-deserved 1-1 draw against Kotoko last Sunday in Kumasi will be doing everything possible to consolidate their lead which is by snatching a the three points against the Miners.
The Obuasi based club has not performed well on the road in the ongoing campaign as they have lost two, won one and drawn seven in ten away games.
The Rainbow boys in the first round beat the Miners 2-1 through Cosmos Dauda’s brace while Awudu Nafiu reduced the deficit for the Obuasi giants. Last season Ashanti Gold held the Phobians to a 2-2 draw game in Accra.
Hearts of Oak guardsman Inusah Musah who was adjudged man of the man against Kotoko spoke to Pulse.com.gh regarding their upcoming league duel against the Miners.
“We are not ready to relinquish our top spot for any team, so we are going all out to get the three points against Ashanti Gold,” said Musah.
“The morale in camp is very high, we know they will come to the game trying to seek for revenge because of what we did to them in the first round but we will not allow them because we are playing at home and we must make our supporters happy which id by winning the game.”
But Awudu Nafiu believes the Miners have what it takes to shock the Phobians in Accra.
“Though we have not had a good season but I can say we have the quality to shock Hearts of Oak in Accra, we are storming Accra with one aim which is to win.”
“We have nine more matches to go and we are doing everything possible to finish at a respectable position at the end of the season.”
Match Facts
The two teams have battled each other 41 times since the inception of the Professional League in 1993.
Hearts have won 18 times as against Ashanti Gold’s 13 with 10 games ending in draw.
76 goals have been scored in this fixture, Hearts have scored 43 goals whilst Ashanti Gold has converted 33 times.
Season/Result
1993 / 1994
Hearts 0 – 2 Goldfiels
Goldfields 1 – 1 Hearts
1994 / 1995
Goldfields 3 – 0 Hearts
Hearts 0 – 1 Goldfields
1995 / 1996
Hearts 2 – 0 Goldfields
Goldfields 0 – 1 Hearts
1996 / 1997
Goldfields 1 – 0 Hearts
Hearts 2 – 0 Goldfields
1998
Goldfields 0 – 1 Hearts
Hearts 3 – 0 Goldfields
1999
Hearts 1 – 0 Goldfields
Goldfields 2 – 1 Hearts
2000
Hearts 2 – 1 Goldfields
Goldfields 2 – 1 Hearts
2001
Goldfields 0 – 1 Hearts
Hearts 3 – 0 Goldfields
2002
Goldfields 0 – 1 Hearts
Hearts 5 – 1 Goldfields
2003
Hearts 1 – 1 Goldfields
Goldfields 1 – 1 Hearts
2004
NOVELTY LEAGUE (different zones)
2005 / 2006
Hearts 1 – 0 Ashanti Gold
Ashanti Gold 0 – 0 Hearts
2006 / 2007
Hearts 0 – 0 Ashanti Gold
Ashanti Gold 0 – 1 Hearts
2007 / 2008
Ashanti Gold 1 – 0 Hearts
Hearts 1 – 1 Ashanti Gold
2009
Hearts 2 – 1 Ashanti Gold
Ashanti Gold 1 – 0 Hearts
2009 / 2010
Ashnti Gold 0 – 0 Hearts
Hearts 0 – 0 Ashanti Gold
2010 / 2011
Hearts 1 – 0 Ashanti Gold
Ashanti Gold 1 – 0 Hearts
2011 / 2012
Hearts 3 – 2 Ashanti Gold
Ashanti Gold 1 – 0 Hearts
2012 / 2013
Hearts 0 – 1 Ashanti Gold
Ashanti Gold 2 – 1 Hearts
2013 / 2014
Ashanti Gold 1 – 0 Hearts
Hearts 2 – 1 Ashanti Gold
2014 / 2015
Ashanti Gold 1 – 1 Hearts
Hearts 2 – 2 Ashanti Gold
2015/2016
Ashanti Gold 1 -2 Hearts
