Accra Hearts of Oak climbed to the top of the Ghana Premier League standings, at least temporarily, after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars in their Matchday 8 encounter.

Substitute Martin Karikari proved to be the difference-maker, scoring in the 82nd minute to hand the Phobians all three points and extend their impressive run of consecutive victories.

The contest proved to be a test of patience for Hearts of Oak, who worked relentlessly in search of an opening goal against a determined Basake Holy Stars side.

Despite their efforts, the breakthrough did not arrive until the closing stages, when Karikari found the back of the net in the 82nd minute to send the Hearts supporters into celebration.

The late goal ultimately settled the contest, allowing the Accra-based club to secure another crucial victory in their pursuit of success in the 2026/27 league campaign.

The result takes Hearts of Oak to 17 points, moving them to the summit of the league table pending the outcome of other matches.

The victory also provides a significant boost to the Phobians’ confidence as they continue to build momentum under head coach Nebojša Kapor.

For Basake Holy Stars, the narrow defeat represents a disappointing outcome after holding Hearts at bay for much of the encounter before conceding late.

Hearts will now look to maintain their winning momentum and consolidate their position among the early contenders for the league title as the season progresses.