Asante Kotoko completed the Ghana Premier League double over rivals Hearts of Oak for the first time since 1987 with a superb brace from Steven Desse Mukwala giving them a 2-0 victory at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
The Ugandan scored a goal in each half to help the Porcupine Warriors bag the maximum points and claim the bragging rights.
Mukwala put Kotoko ahead as early as the 9th minute with a sweet strike to beat goalkeeper Kwesi Nketiah before adding the second through a solo effort three minutes into the injury-time.
Kotoko beat their rivals 3-2 in the first Premier League meeting of the two sides back in December 2023.
The result means coach Dr. Prosper Nartey Ogum has kept his unbeaten record against Hearts of Oak intact as his side moved up to 9th on the table.
Hearts of Oak are now just two points above the drop zone as they lie 14th on the table with 38 points in what has been an incredibly difficult campaign for the Phobians.
Kotoko claim the bragging rights with celebration expected to go deep into the night in the boisterous city of Kumasi while Hearts make the return journey to the capital empty handed.
The Phobians are now facing a real threat with just three matches left to play to end the 2023-24 Ghana Premier League season.
Elsewhere, Medeama SC have moved within six points of leaders FC Samartex 1996 and third on the table after a vital 2-0 win at Bofoakwa Tano.
Bofo defender Andrews Kwadwo Appau put the ball in his own net on the stroke of the first half before Bernandinho Osae Tetteh put the icing on the cake with a sublime finish five minutes to regulation time.
The defending champions bagged their fourth win on the road and have now moved six points within leaders FC Samartex with three matches left to spare.
The result also means Bofoakwa Tano sit firmly in the relegation trap-net in 17th position with 33 points from 31 matches.
Accra Great Olympics continued their push for survival with a thrilling 3-2 win over Berekum Chelsea in a five-goal thriller at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Olympics had their work cut out for them ahead of the visit of the Blues and delivered victory in a scintillating end-to-end action in the Ghanaian capital on Sunday.
Isaac Mensah bagged a brace for Great Olympics while Stephen Amankona also scored twice for the visitors as the home side strolled to victory.
Mensah opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Albert Amoah added the second. Chelsea leading marksman Stephen Amankona pulled a goal back for the visitors before Isaac Mensah restored their two-goal advantage.
But Amankona, who has now increased his goal tally to 15, scored Chelsea's second but was not enough as they suffered defeat on the road.
Olympics are still flirting with relegation as they lie 16th on the table with 36 point but have one outstanding match to clear against Dreams FC.
Berekum Chelsea are now 8th on the table with 44 points from 31 games.
Bibiani GoldStars FC recorded a 2-1 win over Dreams FC at the Duns park on Sunday.
Two second half goals from Alex Eso and Emmanuel Appau and a consolation from Joseph Esso ended hostilities in the mining town of Bibiani.
Alex Eso scored first in the 46th minute before Emmanuel Appau added the second for the home side. But Joseph Esso scored a consolation three minute into injury-time to hand GoldStars FC the win over the visitors.
GoldStars lie 10th with 43 points, five more than Dreams FC in 15th position on 38 points.
Basement club Real Tamale United (RTU) recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Legon Cities at the Naa Sheriga Sports Complex on Sunday.
Alhassan Mankuyeli's 62nd minute penalty separated the two teams in Nalerigu.
Despite the win, RTU are still rocked-bottom with 31 points while Cities lie 11th on the table with 41 points.
Ebenezer Abban bagged a brace for Heart of Lions to enhance their survival prospects with a 2-0 win over leaders FC Samartex 1996.
Lions had to dig deep to score two second half goals to record the win against the League leaders.
Abban broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, before adding the second through the spot kick in the 87th minute to finally break down a resolute Samartex side at the Kpando Stadium.
The result means Heart of Lions are now 13th on the league table as they continue their push for survival while Samartex' lead at the top has been cut to six points with three matches to end the season.
Aduana FC and Medeama are both on 49 points, six adrift of the Aboi-based side with three matches left to end the season.
