The record winners of the MTN FA Cup Accra
Hearts of Oak will come up against second tier side Danbort FC in the round of
64 stage of the 2019/2020 edition of the exciting knockout competion. The
Phobians have won the competition 10 times out of the previous 39 editions, starting
as far back as 1958 when Asante Kotoko were crowned champions of the maiden
edition. Hearts of Oak last won the competition in the year 2000 after beating
Okwahu United 2-0 in the final.
Hearts of Oak and Danbort FC will face off in
the Round of 64 of the FA Cup competition at the Accra sports stadium on
Sunday, 23rd February, 2020 at 15:00GMT to decide who makes it to
the last 16. Danbort will play as the home team.
For the records, this will be the second time
the Phobians are meeting the Nungua based Division One Zone three side in the
history of the MTN FA Cup. The two sides squared off in July 2017 at the Quarter
Final stage of the competition and Danbort gave Hearts of Oak a good run for
their money, but the premier league giants emerged victors on the day, thanks
to a 64th minute spot kick nicely converted by defender Vincent Atinga.
TEAM NEWS AND MATCH FACTS
Hearts of Oak
Accra Hearts of Oak have not won the FA for an
amazing twenty (20) years now since they last won it in the year 2000. The Phobians
lost to eventual champions Medeama SC in the semifinal by 2-1 at the Cape Coast
sports stadium in 2015 before the Yellow and Mauves went on to defeat Asante
Kotoko by 2-1 in the finals. After beating Danbort FC (quarter finals) and the
then Wa All Stars, now Legon Cities FC (semifinals) to reach the finals in 2017,
the Phobians once again lost the trophy to the 9 times champions Asante Kotoko
in the final.
The competition was suspended midway in the
2018/2019 season, and the 20 times league champions are on a mission to end the
20 years FA Cup trophy drought as they face Danbort FC on Sunday. Despite being
the most successful club in the history of the MTN FA Cup, Hearts of Oak have
not been much impressive in the knock out competition in recent years.
Coach
Edward Nii Odoom has all his key
players available for the match against Danbort. Defender Robert Addo
Sowah returned to full training with the squad on Friday after
recovering from a knock he picked recently which ruled him out of the
premier
league week 11 game against Karela United in Tarkwa last Wednesday.
Hearts of Oak’s top scorer this season Kofi
Kodzi (5 goals) will partner Joseph Esso and Daniel Afriyie in the attack with Mohammed
Alhassan, Benjamin Agyare, William Denkyi all available to mount a solid wall
at the back.
Number one shot stopper Richard Atta is
expected to be rested for Richmond Ayi to man the posts against Danbort. In their
last five matches, the Phobians have scored four (4) goals and conceded two
(2). They have won 2, drawn 5 and lost none.
LAST 5 MATCHES:
Dreams FC 0-1 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak 0-0 Ashgold
Aduana Stars 0-0 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak 3-2 Bechem United
Karela United 0-0 Hearts of Oak
Danbort FC
Danbort FC, playing in zone three of the Division
One league, are not a side to be underrated when it comes to the MTN FA Cup
competition. Their head coach, Daniel Awuni, is a former player who played for
the club in two different spells. Awuni captained the team to the quarter final
stage of the FA Cup in the year 2012, scoring six (6) goals in the competition
to emerge the top scorer of the 2012 FA Cup season despite exiting in the
Quarter final stage.
The Nungua based side have reached the
quarter finals of the FA Cup on two occasions, in 2012 and in 2017. On their
way to the quarter finals in 2017, Danbort FC eliminated premiership side Liberty
Professionals in the Round of 16 by defeating them 9-8 on penalties after 1-1 in
regular time.
In the preliminary stage this season, they
traveled away to beat third tier side Charity Stars Academy by 1-2 to set up a
Round of 64 clash with Accra Hearts of Oak, their second time of meeting. In
their last eight (8) matches in the Division One zone three league, Danbort FC
have picked just a win, drawing three (3) and losing four (4). They have scored
5 goals and conceded 8.
However, the team has been on a rise
considering their recent results against clubs like Tema Youth, Kotoku Royals
and Hearts of Lions who are placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th
respectively on the zone three league table. Danbort are highly motivated ahead
of the scintillating fixture after picking their first away win last Wednesday
where they defeated 3rd placed Kotoku Royals by a lone goal. On
Sunday, coach Daniel Awuni is likely to play his usual 4-1-2-3 formation with his
number one choice goalkeeper Richard Kofi in the posts.
The captain, Nathaniel Agyei, former national
U-17 and U-20 star, will lead the likes of Nii Maama Martey, Lord Sowah, Nii Boye,
Harrison, Sule Wahab, George Kissi, Jacob Takyi, Nicholas K. Quartey, Haruna
Nantona along with the leading striker, Jonathan Sowah who has scored 3 goals
so far.
Despite lying as low as 12th on
the zone three Division One League table with just 9 points after 8 matches,
coach Awuni’s side will be up for a thrilling challenge as they come up against
giant opposition and eye a great chance of causing an upset in this encounter
on Sunday.
LAST 5 MATCHES:
Nania FC 1-0 Danbort FC
Danbort FC 0-1 Mighty Jets
Tema Youth 1-1 Danbort FC
Danbort FC 1-1 Hearts of Lions
Kotoku Royals 0-1 Danbort FC
