Accra Hearts of Oak and a plucky Karela United side played out a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.
Sunday’s stalemate, the nineth of the season for the Phobians, was in many ways like the eight before.
Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara restored winger Mawuli Wayo to the starting line up and three minutes after kick off, the decision was brought into sharp focus when Wayo was booked for a needless foul.
Sixteen minutes into the match, Seth Osei, who joined Hearts in December, produced a snap shot from nothing but Karela goalkeeper Nasiru Abdul Karim was equal to the task again.
Hearts kept probing and three minutes later, Raphael Amponsah tested Abdul Karim from range. However, the goalkeeper was equal to the task.
Hearts went close again in the 26th minute but Kwabena Boateng’s effort from close range missed the post by a millimeter.
Before Sunday, Karela United had won three of their last seven games, thanks in no small part, to Asigri Mohammed and Adamu Alhassan – who scored twice in their 2-0 win over Aduana Stars.
Ten minutes before the break, the pair nearly combined again when Asigri Mohammed tried to send a defence-splitting pass to Adamu.
However, right before the ball could reach Adamu Alhassan, Kelvin Osei-Asibey was on hand to intercept it.
Just before the break, Fataw Mohammed combined with Jibril Nurudeen on the right wing but the attack yielded nothing as Karela did not have numbers in the box to attack the cross.
The second half started with a substitution when Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara introduced Martin Karikari for Stephen Appiah Asare.
Five minutes later, Karikari came close to finding the opener, but the winger could not connect with Emmanuel Amankwaah’s cross’s despite his best efforts.
On the hour mark, Adamu Alhassan managed a low header from Fataw Mohammed’s free kick but Hearts keeper Benjamin Asare produced a smart stop to keep it from entering the net.
Hearts came forward again when Martin Karikari weaved his way through Karela’s defense but his effort from the edge of the area missed the goalpost by inches.
It proved to be the last significant moment of the game as Karela held out for a draw.
Hearts Oak have now dropped to 7th place with 42 points and are eleven points behind league leaders, Bibiani Gold Stars.
Meanwhile, Karela United are just above the relegation zone with 29 points, with a better goal difference than 16th placed Accra Lions who are on the same points.
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