Despite guiding Dreams FC to a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Accra Hearts of Oak in the premier league match week 27 encounter at the Accra sports stadium on Sunday, head coach of Dreams FC Ignatius Osei-Fosu is not impressed with the quality of play by the Phobians, saying, they won but failed to play like champions.
Hearts of Oak are the defending champions of the 2021/22 premier league title, having won the league last season, and are hoping to defend the title by the end of the season, though that ambition looks all but impossible considering the circumstances of the day.
Dreams FC conceded as early as the 12th minute through Daniel Afriyie Barnieh who gave Hearts of Oak the lead before youngster Suraj Seidu made it double for the home side in a space of the first 15 minutes of the game on Sunday. A Benjamin Yorke cross forced substitute defender Abdul Jalilu to head the ball into his own net to give Hearts of Oak a 3 goals advantage after Agyenim Boateng had calmly converted from the spot for the visitors.
The game ended 3-1 for Hearts of Oak who have since climbed to 3rd on the league log. Coach Ignatius Fosu blames the defeat on lack of confidence on the side of his players on the field of play, but says Hearts of Oak never played like champions do as they gave more balls away even when not under pressure.
“I thing they didn’t”, Ignatius told StarTimes after the game. He had stated before the match that he expects the Phobians to play like champions.
“I must be frank with you, champions don’t give balls away like that. We could count; Mo Ahassan gave like three balls away, Caleb Amankwah gave like four balls away when they were not under pressure. Yes of course once you get an early goal you relax and you can knock the balls around but they didn’t stretch our defence very much”, he analysed.
“In the whole second half there was only one chance they created and that is even against the run of play because we were dictating play – quick counter attack then they punished us, but apart from that, it was all midfield passing here and there but I could understand them. If for example you are leading 2-0 that’s how you will play, you try to keep the ball and so they kept the ball, that’s good for them. It’s a good win for them, they should carry on”, he added.
