Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals continued with their impressive pre-season outing when they chalked a 2-1 victory over city rivals Accra Hearts of Oak at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday. The match dubbed “Baah-Wiredu Challenge Cup” was played in honour of the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. The top four champions took an early lead in the 10th minute through Emmanuel Osei to send a strong signal to the other premiership contenders of their intention to make a better impact ahead of the 2008/9 Premier League. Osei, who was well placed at the edge of the vital area of Hearts fired into the roof of the goal post from a set up by nimble footed Sam Ayew Yeboah leaving Phobians newly signed on goalie Philemon McCarthy with no answer. Prior to the goal, the two sides had exhibited excellent ball possession and inter-positional play but were unable to make any major break through. Hearts demonstrated an early recovery from the goal and could have cancelled the lead ten minutes later through Obed Ansah but the striker blew off the glorious opportunity after Francis Bossman’s deflected free kick fell on his path with little challenge from the Liberty defence. Hearts David Anas however succeeded in cancelling the lead in the 37th minute from a goal mouth melee to send his side into the second half on level term. The Dansoman-based boys took the lead again just after resumption of the second half in the 47th minute when the entire Hearts defence was caught ball watching for Yaw Antwi who had little challenge to connect home another free kick well taken by Ayew Yeboah from the left flank. The Phobians struggled to level up the scores but on countless occasions the striking partnership of Eric Gawu and Anas could not find the right chemistry to break the back of the Liberty defence. Not even some last minute efforts by Felix Baffoe and Douglas Nkrumah could make any significant impact for the Phobians. Skipper Bawa Mumuni of Liberty Professionals was on hand to receive the Club’s second trophy for the season from Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Anthony Osei Akoto.Source: GNA