Hearts of Oak clobber Akosombo Crystal Palace to prepare for start of Ghana Premier League

Hearts of Oak stepped up preparations for the start of the new Ghana Premier League season with a comprehensive 5-0 win over second tier side Akosombo Crystal Palace on Sunday with ten men.

Centre-back Phillip Boampong got sent off in the second half after receiving two yellow cards.

Under pressure striker Gilbert Fiamenyo grabbed a brace after Emmanuel Hayford opened the scoring, and Isaac Oduro and Kwame Kizito completed the rout for the Premier League side.

The friendly match, played at the Akosombo Textiles Park, was a two-game affair as the Phobians were held to a goalless draw game in the first match.

However they had chance to score in the first game but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sayid stole the show as he thwarted efforts after efforts from the boots of Kenneth Okoro, Maxwell Boakye and Gerald Odupong.

Herbert Addo put in a different set for the second game, and they got going as early as the 18th minute through Emmanuel Hayford.

Hearts scored two more goals in three minutes through Gilbert Fiamenyo's volley in the box and Isaac Oduro's near post blast from a corner.

Fiamenyo followed up with his brace after latching on a loose defensive pass to fire past the Palace goalkeeper.

But the Phobians did not end there as they hammered in the five in the 55th minute through Kwame Kizito.

Hearts will play West Africa Football Academy on Saturday in the opening game of the 2014/15 First Capital Plus Premier League.

Lineups: Tetteh Luggard, Fatau Mohammed, Isaac Oduro, Abankwa Aziz, Philip Boampong, Leonard Tawiah (Issah Mumuni), Paul Acquah (Thomas Abbey), Emmanuel Hayford (Richard Yamoah), Kwame Kizito (Kweku Andoh), Fiamenyo Gilbert (Hamza Mohammed), Isaac Mensah (Eric Kumi).