Accra Hearts of Oak will walk home smiling as they pulled the plugs on an impressive Asante Kotoko side who were hopeful of ending the first round of the season strongly with a nine-point lead adrift Bechem United and a 15 point gap to their host but that was not to be as they settled for a point in a drab goalless draw in an outstanding match week 7 fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Phobians started the early exchanges of the duel on the front foot as Awako’s explosive shot was tipped off the post by Danlad Ibrahim manning the post for Kotoko.
That didn’t end there, as they surged on with experienced duo Sulley Muntari, Awako combining efforts nicely to set up the workaholic Afriyie Barnieh who failed to put his side into the lead.
Asante Kotoko were awakened by Hearts’ quest for a goal which saw them create chances of their own through Imoro Ibrahim, Frank Mbella, Mfegue but Richard Attah was equal to the task.
The ‘Phobians’ nearly opened their account through Kojo Obeng following a nice flick from the boots off newbie Salim Adams but his effort narrowly came off the post.
In the second half, both teams came with an objective of getting the first goal and it was the league’s top goal scorer Frank Etouga Mbella’s free header which missed the crossbar by a whisker to the disappointment of the fans.
Coach Samuel Boadu effected a double substitution pulling off veteran Sulley Muntari and Salim Adams for Ansah Botchway and Isaac Mensah but that didn’t inure to help his team find the breakthrough.
Both teams probed for a winner but it wasn’t to be as they each settled for a point heading into the second round.
Hearts will play Legon Cities whiles Kotoko will be at home to Dreams FC at the Baba Yara Stadium.
