A draw was the outcome at the Accra Sports Stadium as Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak failed to capitalize on their chances in a fiercely contested Ghana Premier League match on Sunday afternoon.
Entering the fixture as underdogs, Hearts of Oak were under immense pressure following three consecutive defeats to their arch-rivals and a lackluster season.
In contrast, Kotoko began the match more brightly, looking the more threatening side in the opening exchanges.
By the 8th minute, Kotoko had already created two promising chances from corner kicks, but their headers lacked precision.
Hearts goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was the busier of the two keepers, making several crucial saves in the first half to keep his side in the game.
Andrews Ntim Manu’s free-kick sailed wide in the 13th minute after a dynamic run by Albert Amoah. Kotoko appealed for a penalty in the 16th minute when Kwame Opoku went down in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Hearts of Oak began to assert themselves, nearly capitalizing on a defensive mix-up in the 33rd minute from a corner.
Two minutes later, Martin Karikari’s energetic run was halted by Patrick Asiedu, whose defensive awareness kept Kotoko in the game.
