Dreams FC pipped ten-man Hearts of Oak 2-1 to win 2018 Ghalca G8 tournament at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Two goals from Razak Cromwell and captain Leonard Owusu Agyeman after going down to Daniel Kordie’s opener, gave Dreams their first-ever major silverware and meant that Hearts and their manager Frank Elliott Nuttal have lost two finals within three months.
Hearts made a single change in their starting XI that defeated Asante Kotoko in the semifinals as Patrick Razak came in for Reginald Thompson while Dreams kept faith in their setup with Eric Gawu leading the attack against his former side.
Dreams had the first opportunity by the first minute after Gawu went past his marker and sent a low drive across the face of goal but couldn’t find a teammate for a tap in. Razak forced a save from Dreams goalkeeper Isaac Amoako on the other side.
However, Kordie opened the scoring for Hearts by the 11th minute. The youngster connected a pass and sent a powerful shot past goalkeeper Isaac Amoako from 25 yards out.
Dreams regrouped and Cromwell equalised for them seven minutes later after Gawu’s pass located him. Sharani Zuberu could have sent Dreams in front for the time in the game by the 42nd minute but he failed to guide his effort past goalkeeper Ben Mensah before Gawu also shot wide.
Kordie combined with Cosmos Dauda by 47th minute but the former’s last ditch effort was blocked by Patrick Arthur.
Dreams finally took the lead by 62nd minute after Gawu was brought down in the box. Leonard sent goalkeeper Mensah to the wrong side and silence the traveling supporters of Hearts at the stadium.
With seven minutes remaining, Hearts were left with ten men after Inusah Musah picked his second yellow of the day following a rush tackle.
Nuttall charged his men to move forward in search of the equaliser but they couldn’t find a breach in Dreams’ resilient defence just like it happened against Asante Kotoko in the FA Cup in October.