Ghana Premier League: Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara targets top four finish

Photo Credit - Hearts of Oak.

Head coach of Hearts of Oak Aboubakar Ouattara has reflected on their massive 3-1 week 32 victory over the struggling Accra Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday May 23.

Emmanuel Asubonteng shot the Phobians ahead with just 12 minutes played with the solitary goal remaining the same moving into the half time.

A long ranger from Lawrence Setordjie outside Hearts of Oak’s penalty area in the second half brought the game to 1-1 but the Phobians fought back to lead one more time when Kwesi Asmah sliced in Afriyie Boateng’s pass.

There was a magical moment for the 2000 CAF Champions League winners when goalkeeper Benjamin Asare sent a long pass from his area, locating Hamza Issah who wove around an Accra Lions defender to put the ball behind the net to peg the game at 3-1 on the 90th minute mark.

Aboubakar Ouattara said: “It’s a very important victory for us because it has been long we last won a number of games in the second round.

“It’s very important for us because we need that three points. We have to go into the top four, we are trying and hoping that other teams don’t win [so that we go into the top four].

“Of course we know this team and it is not easy to play this team because they have talents but we worked on it. They worked well but the most important thing is the goal and we got it.” Ouattara said in a post-match press conference.

Hearts of Oak stay in 5th on 52 points despite claiming all three points in the capital derby. Their next two games will be against Legon Cities before wrapping up the term at home to Samartex.