Ghana Premier League leaders Accra Hearts of Oak have advanced to the round of 16 of the MTN FA Cup after smashing lower-tier side Windy Professionals 4-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Daniel Afriyie hit the opener for the Phobians on the 50th minute mark before the attacker set up Emmanuel Nettey for the second goal.
Windy Professionals skipper reduced the deficit for the visitors but Benjamin Afutu and Umar Manaf registered goals to put Hearts past the travelers.
Hearts coach Samuel Boadu left out Salifu Ibrahim who is recuperating from a rib injury he sustained against Medeama SC in the Ghana Premier League on matchday 29 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Winger Patrick Razak and midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway were both handed starting berths.
Windy Professionals managed to hold Hearts’ attack for the opening 45 minutes as the lower-tier side contained the all-firing Hearts Phobians attack.
After the interval the Ghana Premier League leaders opened the scoring through Daniel Afriyie Barnieh. The 19-year-old, who has been likened club legend Ishmael Addo scored his 3rd goal of the competition following his brace against Liberty Professionals in the round of 64.
On the 54th minute mark the former Ghana U20 attacker rounded up the goalkeeper and released midfielder Emmanuel Nettey who connected the ball home for his second goal of the season following his goal against Great Olympics.
Moments later skipper for Windy halved the deficit for the visitors.
Samuel Boadu withdrew Nettey 3 minutes after his goal and brought on Umar Manaf Gumah and later on introduced striker Victor Aidoo to take the place of Ansah Botchway. Before his introduction Abednego Tetteh had come on for Kwadwo Obeng Junior who assisted the first goal of the game.
But, the Phobians were not finished yet with their scoring spree as Benjamin Afutu outjumped everybody in the box to head home a Fatawu Mohammed cross from the right to restore Hearts’ 2-0 advantage. The central midfielder has now scored his 6th goal of the season.
Skipper Fatawu Mohammed provided his second assist of the game as he tailored a cross for Manaf to instinctively connect home for the fourth goal for the Phobians.
