Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko battled to a 0-0 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon, in a fiercely contested Ghana Premier League encounter that saw chances at both ends but ultimately no goals.
Hearts entered the match under pressure following three consecutive defeats to their bitter rivals and a disappointing campaign.
In contrast, Kotoko appeared the more confident side in the early stages, threatening twice from corners within the opening eight minutes, though their headers failed to test goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.
Defender Kelvin Osei Asibey produced a crucial block to prevent a one-on-one opportunity, while Asare was called into action several times in the first half to deny Kotoko, who pushed for an early lead.
In the 13th minute, Andrews Ntim Manu blasted a free-kick wide following a promising run by Albert Amoah. Moments later, Kotoko’s appeal for a penalty was waved off after Kwame Opoku went down in the box.
As the first half progressed, Hearts of Oak gradually gained a foothold. A defensive error from Kotoko in the 33rd minute almost gifted the Phobians an opening goal.
Martin Karikari’s determined run shortly after was stopped by Patrick Asiedu’s sharp defending, and a header from the resulting corner was cleared off the line.
The match’s most contentious moment came in the 40th minute when Wisdom Fernando Bassey appeared to break clean through on goal after winning possession, only for the referee to halt play for a foul, a decision that sparked mixed reactions from fans and pundits.
Hearts finished the half the stronger of the two sides, but the scoreboard remained unchanged.
The second half resumed with immediate action. Hearts’ Stephen Appiah Asare forced a fine save from Kotoko goalkeeper Mohammed Camara in the 47th minute. Substitute Saaka Dauda responded with a low shot that beat Asare but trickled just wide of the post.
Asare continued to impress between the posts, notably snuffing out a dangerous cross in the 53rd minute with a Kotoko attacker unmarked and ready to pounce. Hearts ramped up the intensity late on, with Albert Amoah flashing a cross-shot across the face of goal in the 81st minute that begged for a finishing touch.
Despite several promising opportunities, neither side could find the decisive breakthrough. Hearts edged possession with 51%, but Kotoko were more productive in front of goal, registering 10 shots to Hearts’ 5.
The result leaves Asante Kotoko in fourth place, while Hearts of Oak remain sixth on the table.
For the Phobians, the outcome all but ends any faint hopes of mounting a late title challenge, while Kotoko maintain their place in the top four as the season winds down.
