MTN FA Cup 2021 final – Match Report: AshantiGold (7) 0-0 (8) Hearts of Oak – Hearts annex FA Cup after marathon shoot out victory

Hearts of Oak have claimed the 2021 MTN FA Cup title after beating AshantiGold 8-7 on penalties at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday night.

The regulation time ended 0-0 and Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Richard Attah emerged the hero of the night as he saved a decisive penalty from Seth Osei before blasting a thunderous shot past Kofi Mensah.

The former Okyeman Planners shot-stopper watched Kofi Mensah blaze his shot over the cross bar as the Phobians claim their sixth historic double.

Hearts coach Samuel Boadu preferred to go with the line up start defeated Medeama SC 3-0 in the semi-final at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium as the tactician dropped Salifu Ibrahim to the bench. Patrick Razak, Isaac Mensah and Caleb Amankwah all held down their places in the line up.

AshantiGold stop-gap trainer Thomas Duah handed a return to Yaw Annor in his starting XI. The former Bechem United winger started in an unfamiliar 4-3-3 system of Thomas Duah who has fancied a more rigid 5-4-1 in his previous games as he took the place of Isaac Opoku Agyemang.

In the 14th minute Frederick Ansah Botchway glided through the midfield and located Patrick Razak with a crossfield pass the rode through the right channel. The ex-Horoya FC man swerved his marker and tried to beat Kofi Mensah from the first goal but his effort missed narrowly.

Benjamin Afutu steered a Fatawu Mohammed corner kick into the crossbar moments later before the Miners rearguard cleared off the danger for corner. The holding midfielder briefly celebrated what appeared to him like a goal but referee Daniel Laryea had signalled for corner.

Eric Esso picked the first booking of the game after he clattered into Ansah Botchway in the middle.

The first stanza ended with neither Hearts nor AshantiGold hitting the back of the net.

Congolese defender Raddy Ovouka produced a lightening moment around the hour mark as he marauded through three AshantiGold midfielders before unleashing a grounder that nearly beat Kofi Mensah in post for the Miners.

With a quarter of an hour left to play Boadu withdrew Isaac Mensah introduced Salifu Ibrahim in his place as the tactician sought to bring creativity into the midfield. On the 78th minute Ovouka picked the pocket of the AshantiGold defenders with a slick play to find Salifu but the midfielder skirted his ball into the side-netting.

Patrick Razak was withdrawn for Victor Aidoo as Boadu blooded in fresh legs in attack but neither side could hit the back of the net before the regulation time petered out for extra-time.

There was still no goal produced in additional 30 minutes of extra-time as the tie headed for penalty kicks.

Amos Addai and David Abagna missed for AshantiGold while Caleb Amankwah and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh missed for Hearts.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @Akwasiakyereko