Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko Share Spoils in Goalless Super Clash
Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko played out a tense 0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon in their highly anticipated Ghana Premier League Week 28 clash at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In a game that featured moments of intensity and missed opportunities, both sides walked away with a point as neither was able to find the cutting edge in front of goal.
Early Threats and Missed Chances
Kotoko began the match the brighter of the two, eager to extend their recent dominance over their arch-rivals, having won their last three encounters. The Porcupine Warriors threatened early through set pieces, but efforts from headers in the opening ten minutes went wide of the mark.
Hearts defender Kelvin Osei Asibey made a crucial clearance to deny a Kotoko one-on-one chance, while goalkeeper Benjamin Asare stood firm to deny multiple efforts from the visitors.
The Phobians slowly found their rhythm and nearly capitalised on a mix-up in the Kotoko defence in the 33rd minute. Just moments later, Martin Karikari’s determined run was cut short by a well-timed tackle from Patrick Asiedu. From the ensuing corner, a Hearts header was dramatically cleared off the line, sparking shouts from fans but no goal.
Controversy and Late Pressure
One of the biggest flashpoints came in the 40th minute when Kotoko’s Wisdom Fernando Bassey dispossessed a Hearts player and was clear on goal, only to have the play pulled back for a foul — a decision that sparked debate among players and supporters.
The second half resumed with both teams upping the tempo. Hearts came close just two minutes in through Stephen Appiah Asare, whose strike was superbly saved by Kotoko goalkeeper Mohammed Camara. Substitute Saaka Dauda nearly gave Kotoko the lead, but his low shot narrowly missed the post.
Stalemate and Table Implications
The result sees Asante Kotoko remain in fourth place with 48 points, while Hearts of Oak sit sixth with 43 points.
With just six matches remaining, the draw further dents Hearts’ slim hopes of mounting a title challenge, while Kotoko continue to chase the top spot in an increasingly tight race for the Ghana Premier League crown.
