Hearts beat Liberty3-2 in a friendly
20th February 2019
Hearts OF oak survived a stirring fightback from Liberty Professional to win 3-2 in a thrilling friendly at Pobiman on Wednesday.
Kim Grant's side established a 3-1 lead by half-time, as Manaf Umar scored a brace and set up Obeng Junior for the Phobians third but saw another cancellation by the visitors at the end of the 90 minutes.
The Phobians could have gone up as early as the 4th minutes but Fatawu Mohammed's was denied as his strike hits the cross bar.
He followed again with another low ground shot in the 20th minutes only for Kyei Baffour Aikins to clear the ball off the goal line after goalkeeper Kofi Baah was completely beaten
A minutes later, Manaf Umar pounced on a mistake by the Liberty goalkeeper to give the Phobians the lead.
Umar doubled the lead on 27 minutes when he slotted home from close range before assisting to make it Kwadwo Obeng Jnr made it three-nil for Hearts in the 33rd minute.
But Liberty pulled one back after 40 minutes through Elvis Kyei Baffour after a save by Goalkeeper Ayi bounced back to him to tap home.
Seven minutes into the second half, Richard Adonu scored again Liberty to further reduce deficit.
Coach Grant, in order to test other players for next Sunday's triller with Dreams Fc, replaced Aminu Alhassan, Kofi Kordzi, Charles MacKarthy and Manaf Umar with Mitchelle Sarpong, Joseph Esso Malik Akowuah and Benjamin Afutu in the 58th minute.
He complted his substiiuton for the as Enock Addo, Anthony Quayson and Daniel Kordie came on for Fatawu Mohammed, Obeng Jnr and William Dankyi
His changes nearly paid of as substitute Mitchelle Sarpong strike hit the wood work with the keeper completely beaten
The Phobians will move back to their favourite Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday to to play Dreams FC in S.T Nettey Memorial Cup