Liberty Professionsals sunday beat local city rivals and defending league champions Accra Hearts of Oak 3-2 at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Guinea pair of Fode Moussa Sylla and Nabi Capi Soumah again were the scorers. Nabi Soumah scored twice in the opening 11 minutes before Fode Sylla a third 10 minutes after the break

Sellas Tetteh’s men could have taken an early lead on 4 minutes, but Isaac Donkor with space and time squared the ball in too early only for Godwin Bonsu to clear for a corner which was wasted.

Two minutes later, Liberty got the opener. Hearts had gone in to attack and Dan Gyamfi robbed Eric Gawu off the ball, the all fell to Richard Boateng who swiftly turned defence into attack, rode two tackles with a brilliant run into the box before turning the ball in to Isaac Donkor who spotting Soumah in squared it perfectly it his feet to knock ball beyond sprawling Laud Quartey for the opener.

It took yet another ball in from the right to give Capi Soumah his second and put Liberty well and comfortably in the lead after 7 minutes. Togolese winger Moro Zakari had sneaked in on the left to force a save from Quartey who pushed his shot well past the post for a corner. The resultant kick was knocked back into the box by David Kabu after Ghandi’s first ball had been cleared for Soumah to ghost past Maxwell Mensah to beat Quartey again at the far post.

It was beginning to look like a disaster looking for the defending league champions as Soumah’s strike partner Fode Sylla, a hattrick hero on his Ghana debut against Hasaacas also went close twice in succession looking for glory of his own.

Heart woke up to the reality of demolition and created chances of their own at the other end. Eric Gawu who was being heavily guarded on the right was fouled by Richard Boateng and the resultant freekick almost gave Heart the needed tonic they needed.

Goalkeeper Acheampong was beaten and the ball going into the far corner was headed out by Addo but rather fell inviting to Mensah but his shot was well blocked by Richard Kissi and finally cleared by Moro Zakari.

5 minutes later, Hearts fashioned out a goal of their own thanks to a poor goalkeeping and refereeing decision. It was dubious call to award Hearts an indirect free-kick when goalkeeper Akwasi Acheampong had barely handled the ball for 5 seconds but not surprising.

He seems to have been looking for a opportunity to get the Phobians back in and the occasion presented itself, Mahtama Otoo took it well to rifle a shot into the roof of the net.

The sight of the board members with hands raised in joyous mood signaled the start of the phobian’s anthem from the stands and the atmosphere around the stadium changed but not for the better as a minute later Moro Zakari from close range missed rather woefully an easier to score than miss opportunity.

Liberty were back on top playing some beautiful football again and creating chances, but could not take advantage as they went into the break ruing the missed chances.

The second half started as in the first with Liberty the first to find an opening on goal but Fode Sylla twice missed with headers to set the tone for the restart.

Ten minutes after the interval, Hearts conceded and it looked like it was coming as they looked to play on the counter. A long ball in from David Addo found Sylla holding off Osei Bonsu before Karim Alhassan came in to push the ball out for a corner. Ghandi Kassenu hit a low one into the box and Laud Quartey unchallenged went for the ball and strangely lost it, Sylla was still chasing and gifted with that advantage turned on one leg to slide it home.

For many the goal seemed to have ended challenge, but the Hearts will not take it lying down.

It took just 10 minutes for them to reduce the tally through Samuel Affum header at the near post. Goalkeeper Acheampong was having a hard time dealing the aerial ball and he misjudged a Douglas Nkrumah corner that he could have come out to collect to flash across the goal and get to Affum who was well placed to nod home.

Liberty’s bench quickly to neutralise the pressure brought on Francis Morton for Moro Zakari. The change brought life and fire into the Liberty attack again but it proved costly for Hearts goalie Laud Quartey who was already having a bad day at the office.

Morton with fire in his left foot nearly embarrassed Quartey when his shot from outside the box was underrated by the experienced goalkeeper. The ball almost went through his grip and the resultant corner was also spewed into the path of Isaac Donkor who failed to punish Hearts blasting the effort wide.

There was still time enough for more havoc and Hearts fans were livid and animated at the goalie performance unfortunately for Quartey things were going to get worse. Morton again from outside the box fired at goal and Quartey this time again fumbled badly and spilled the ball into the path of Nabi Soumah who blasted his effort wide.

That was his final contribution in the game and was replaced by Baba Sampana.

At the other end Hearts were still fighting for the equalizer. Hamza Abdulai, Andrew Aryeetey brought a new lease of life and Samuel Affum from close range missed a free header.

There was another chance at the other end for Liberty but substitute Richard Afful who came on for Fode Moussa Sylla could hardly keep his shot low and on target and with the 5 minutes of added time left and Liberty pressing with was obvious the victory was well and truly secured for the Dansoman side.

LIBERTY: Akwasi ACHEAMPONG; David KABU, Richard KISSI, Daniel GYAMFI, David ADDO (c); Ghandi KASSENU, Richard BOATENG (Kennedy ASHIA), Isaac DONKOR, Moro ZAKARI (Francis MORTON); Nabi Capi SOUMAH, Fode Moussa SYLLA (Richard AFFUL).

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