Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko played out a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium, with both teams failing to convert their chances in a fiercely contested Ghana Premier League encounter on Sunday afternoon.
Coming into the fixture as underdogs, Hearts of Oak were under pressure after three straight defeats to their rivals and a below-par season. Kotoko, by contrast, started the brighter of the two and looked more threatening in the opening exchanges.
By the 8th minute, Kotoko had already threatened twice from corners, but their headers lacked accuracy. Defender Kelvin Osei Asibey was forced into a crucial intervention to deny Kotoko a one-on-one opportunity that could have led to an early goal. Hearts goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was the busier of the two, making several vital saves in the first half.
Andrews Ntim Manu blasted a free-kick wide in the 13th minute after a lively 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 grow into the game, 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 contest. From the resulting corner, a header was cleared off the line as Hearts pressed for the opener.
A controversial moment arrived in the 40th minute when Kotoko’s Wisdom Fernando Bassey won the ball and appeared clean through on goal, but his challenge on a Hearts defender was ruled a foul—a decision that divided opinion.
Half-time arrived with the score level, but Hearts of Oak looked the stronger side in the closing stages of the half.
Just two minutes into the second half, Stephen Appiah Asare came close with a well-struck shot that was brilliantly saved by Kotoko’s Mohammed Camara. Kotoko responded through substitute Saaka Dauda, whose low effort rolled past the goalkeeper but missed the far post by inches.
Benjamin Asare remained sharp, making a vital save to stop a dangerous cross with a Kotoko player lurking unmarked in the 53rd minute.
Hearts of Oak increased the pressure in the final stages, particularly through Albert Amoah, whose 81st-minute cross-shot flashed across goal, needing only a touch to turn it in.
Despite the chances, neither side could find the breakthrough. Hearts edged possession (51%), while Kotoko registered more shots (10 to 5), but both teams lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.
The draw keeps Asante Kotoko in fourth place, while Hearts of Oak sit sixth, with their slim hopes of a league title all but extinguished.
