Striker Saddick Adams scored a treble of goals to lift the 2017 MTN FA Cup title for Asante Kotoko against arch-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak at the Tamale Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The ex-Atletico Madrid and Ghana U17 star striker raced George Steve Pollack’s side into the lead just after 83 seconds.
The 27-year-old then converted from the spot after Richard Akrofi shirt-tagged Obed Owusu inside the box and referee Adaari awarded a penalty.
Adams ended the first-half in style as he profited from a defensive mishap by Vincent Atinga and rounded up Benjamin Mensah before slotting into the empty net.
Hearts returned from the break gingered up and Thomas Abbey headed home from a Fatawu Mohammed’s left cross but the Phobians could not complete their comeback as they slipped to defeat.
Adams, the Man-of-the-Match award winner, was rumoured to be out of the game with injury but coach Pollack handed him a starting role along with Obed Owusu and the pair tormented the Phobian defence in the opening 45 minutes.
Pollack’s counter-part from Hearts had five of the Black Stars B icons from the WAFU tournament starting.
According to their game plan, the Porcupine Warriors offing a 4-5-1 formation took the game for Hearts right from the blast of Adaari’s whistle and the pressure told on Hearts’s defence as they began to play nonsense.
Emmanuel Gyamfi’s pace caused problems for Joshua Otoo on the right as he broke free early on and supplied a pass to Adams. Akrofi made attempts to challenge Adams for the loose ball but the former Ghana U23 skipper fought him off and maintained his composure inside the box and calmly planted the ball behind the on-rushing Ben Mensah’s net.
The goal toppled the Phobians but fired up Kotoko and they hogged possession in their favour. Hearts failed to contain the fleeting Kotoko forward-lines and Akrofi handed Adams an opportunity to score his second goal from the spot.
The center-back dragged down Obed Owusu inside the box and referee Adaari wasted no time in pointing to the spot. Adams stepped up and fired down the right bottom corner.
Hearts were dazed and Kotoko refused to take their legs off the gear. An Owusu Jackson long-searching pass left Atinga and Adams in an aerial challenge and the defender’s attempted headed clearance fell in the way of Adams who rounded up the keeper and fired home.
However Adams’ third goal was characterized by an unnecessary theatricality as he acted as if an announced amputation had taken place when he went into a challenge with Atinga.
Nuttal’s side re-strategized during the break and Thomas Abbey headed home to cut down the deficit on the 53rd minute.
Hearts piled pressure with Patrick Razak and Kwame Kizito all coming close with brilliant displays but their efforts were not enough as Hearts could not score again before the game petered out.
Kotoko will represent Ghana in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Source:FA Cup
