FA Cup Round of 32: Hearts, Kotoko, advance as defending champion Nsoatreman exits

The MTN FA Cup Round of 32 produced thrilling matches across the country over the weekend, with powerhouses Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko securing comfortable victories that propelled them to the round of 16.

Accra Hearts of Oak took on the Division One League side Home Stars FC, who shocked their Round of 64 hosts – Legon Cities FC – to progress to this stage of the competition.

The Phobians, who are the record FA Cup winners, did not leave room for complacency and be taken by surprise as they dominated the game from start to finish and walked away with a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Mawuli Wayo opened the scoring, and his counterpart Enoch Asubonteng doubled the lead before the half-time whistle. Asamoah Boateng added the third goal in the second half to seal the win.

The victory reflects Hearts’ growing confidence in the competition as they set their sights on adding another FA Cup trophy to their collection.

Elsewhere in Kumasi, Asante Kotoko also managed to book their place in the round of 16 of the MTN FA Cup with a 2-0 win over lower-tier side Acceler8z FC at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Kwame Poku gave the Porcupine Warriors the lead just before hal-ftime, picking a spot and converting precisely from the penalty spot after Saaka Dauda was fouled inside the box.

The second half started rough for Kotoko as the visitors were determined to pull a surprise. This forced Kotoko to sit deep to maintain their advantage. Ansu Henry, a second-half substitute, sealed the win late into the game with a clinical finish, relieving the fans of their frustration.

The victory keeps Kotoko’s hopes alive of lifting the FA Cup again after an eight-year drought. As nine-time champions, the Porcupine Warriors are eyeing a return to glory in a quest for silverware this season.

Defending champions Nsoatreman were eliminated from the MTN FA Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to fellow Ghana Premier League (GPL) side Young Apostles at the Nana Gyeabour Park.

The tightly contested match ended goalless after regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout that saw Young Apostles triumph 4-3 to progress to the round of 16.

Nsoatreman, who lifted the trophy last season by defeating Bofoakwa Tano in a memorable final, struggled to break down a resolute Young Apostles defence. Despite creating a few chances, the holders could not find the breakthrough. Young Apostles, meanwhile, held their ground and took their opportunity in the shootout to book their place in the next stage.

MTN FA Cup Round 32 Matches