Ghanaian champions Hearts of Oak bow to Togolese champions ASKO de Kara in International friendly

Togolese champions ASKO de Kara pipped Ghanaian champions Hearts of Oak in an international friendly in Lome.

ASKO dominated the Phobians in the early stages of the game. Striker Ouro-Bodi Harissou forced goalkeeper Richard Baidoo into a save to deny the hosts from taking the lead.

Hearts of Oak quickly recovered in the first quarter of an hour to develop a football made of small passes, which troubled the home team.

ASKO later took over the game and worried the Hearts defense led by Mohammed Alhassan. Abbuy Thierry came close to opening the scoring in the 23rd minute. From that moment, ASKO had the better exchanges until goalkeeper Amen Agbagla miscalculated a ball which fell into Patrick Razak whose volley narrowly missed the post in the 28th-minute.

Magnim Ataba broke the dreadlock in the 32nd-minute after connecting a Ouro-Bodi Harissou beautiful pass to end the first half 1-0 in favour of the hosts.

The second half begun with ASKO eager to consolidate their lead. Abbuy Thierry, Sewonou Éli and Ouro-Nimini Nazife who had just entered, gave cause for concern to the Phobian defense.

Hearts of Oak in their quest to equalize saw Ibrahim Salifu firing a heavy strike on goalkeeper Amen Agbagla in the 77th minute but could not trouble the goalie who was outstanding throughout the game.

The Phobians kept pushing for the equalizer but all their efforts were thwarted by the resilient ASKO defense.

The game ended 1-0 in favour of the home side.

The Phobians are preparing for their Caf Champions League first preliminary round tie against Guinea’s Club Industriel de Kamsar later this month while the 6-time Togo champions are also prepping for their Caf Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie against Mauritania’s ASAC Concorde this coming Thursday.

How both team lined up

ASKO de Kara

23 – AGBAGLA Amen

6 – ATABA Magnim

11 – OURO-BODI Harissou

12 – SEWONOU Eli

15 – SAMA Halimou

17 – OURO-NIMINI Bassitou

19 – GNAMA Akaté

21 – OZOU Kossi Jean

22 – Madjedje Djalilou

25 – Novon Efoe

28 – ABBUY Thierry

Substitutes

16 – SAMA Mahadiou

2 – OURO-NIMINI Nazife

5 – AGBOTCHO Magnim

8 – AGBEZUDO Claude

9 – NAPO Sonhaye

14 – OUATALABOU Moutalabou

24 – Gavor Robert

HEARTS OF OAK

1 – Richard Baidoo

4 – Isaac Mensah

5 – Ansah Botchwey

6 – William Dankyi

8 – Caleb Amankwah

10 – Emmanuel Nettey

14 – Robert Addo Sowah

15 – Mohamed Alhassan

17 – Patrick Razak

21 – Ibrahim Salifu

25 – Larry Sumaila

Substitutes

29 – James Sewornu

35 – Salim Adams

40 – Enoch Asubonteng

22 – Richmond Ayi

16 – Benjamin Mensah

39 – Seidu Suraj

32 – Basit Abdul Anwar