Hearts chase MTN FA Cup final spot against old foes Medeama in Cape Coast
Hearts of Oak and Medeama will battle for a place in the final of the 2014/15 MTN FA Cup at the Robert Mensah Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, on Sunday.
The meeting will be the second time in three seasons the two sides are squaring face-to-face in the semi-finals of the cup competition.
Hearts were on the losing end in the 2013 MTN FA CUP semi-final, falling to a 2-1 defeat at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Phobians opened the scoring from the spot kick through Robin Gnange after Gilbert Fiamenyo was swept off his feet in the box.
But Medeama overturned the game when Nuru Sulley inexplicably gave away two spot kicks in a space of six minutes.
Godfred Rockson made no mistake dispatching the kicks past Tetteh Luggard to help Medeama reach the finals which they eventually won by beating Asante Kotoko.
This is season, Hearts have had a good run in the FA Cup competition, and the present group will seek to avenge the defeat suffered at the hands of Medeama two seasons back, and also aim to put their names in the record books for earning Hearts a first final appearance in the FA Cup in 15 years.
Herbert Addo and his boys have had better results in the cup competitions compared to the league.
They brushed aside lower Division sides Elmina Sharks (1-0; Isaac Oduro), Bolgatanga ManCity (3-0; Eric Kumi, Shaun October, Foovi Aguidi), Afienya City (1-0; Isaac Mensah), and Tamale Utrecht (3-0; Emmanuel Hayford, Eric Kumi, Gerald Odupong) on the road to the semi-finals, but the game with Medeama will be the first time Hearts will face opposition from the Premier League.
Medeama also beat Kade United, Gold Stars, Great Astronomers, and WAFA to seal progress to the semi-finals.
The Mauves-and-yellow held Hearts to a scoreless drawn game in mid-week in the Elite Cup competition, but just like the Phobians, they rested a number of key players with one eye on Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.
Medeama have the upper hand going into the game having been undefeated against Hearts in their last three cup and league meetings.
They did the double over Hearts in the 2013/14 league season, winning 0-1 in Cape Coast courtesy a Kabiru Moro last minute striker, and will be aiming to repeat their heroics of the 2012/13 season.
Herbert Addo went all the way to the finals last season with Inter Allies, but he lost in the finals, and so will also be confident of going one better this time by ending Medeama's recent superiority over Hearts.
The Phobians have appeared in a record 13 finals in the Ghana FA Cup competition. After losing two finals in 1958 and 1960, and having to wait for 15 years for its first FA Cup win in 1973, Hearts have gone on to win the FA Cup a record 10 times.
However, Hearts have won the remaining 10 finals and three of them after replay. Hearts drew 2-2 with Akotex in 1973 but won the replay 2-0.
Again, in 1979, Hearts drew 2-2 with Sekondi Eleven Wise, but won the replay 1-0.
In 1981, the Phobians again drew 2-2 with an Abedi Pele led RTU, but won the decider 1-0.
Hearts of Oak hold the record as being the only Ghanaian Club in history to win the league and the FA Cup FIVE times.
The Phobians were double champions in 1973, 1979, 1989/90, 1999, and 2000.
Comments
This article has 0 comment(s) , give your comment