As Police of Benin yesterday gave Accra Hearts of Oak a stiff opposition in their CAF Confederation Cup encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium, and in the end the Ghanaians could only manage a lone goal scored by Selasie Adjei in the 46th minute.
The match, played in a virtually empty stadium, saw Hearts making fruitless efforts to create goal scoring opportunities especially in the first half when the visitors built a strong wall to repulse all their attacks.
Indeed, the Phobians could hardly possess the ball and their passes barely broke the unyielding wall of their opponents. Hearts proved just an ordinary side until the second half when coach Herbert Addo brought in speedster Kwame Kizito.
Moments after he substituted Issah Mumuni in the second half, Kizito picked the ball at the flanks, gave a neat pass to Owusu Bempah who wasted no time when he floated it into the vital area of AS Police.
Selassie Adjie who was lurking around outjumped his markers to head the ball to the back of the net before goalkeeper Agbokou Judicail could react.
The goal brought out the best from AS Police who came out from their shells and started attacking from all angles, but lacked the finishing instinct to threaten goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama in post for Hearts .
With the fans yearning for more goals, Hearts started making incursions into the area of their opponents.
In one of such attacks in the 49th minute the homesters had a begging chance to increase the tally when Gilbert Fiamenyo put Selasi Adjie through in the box, but his feeble shot was easily saved by the goalkeeper.
Hearts continued to put in much effort in their bid to increase the tally, forcing the visitors’ defenders, namely Dossa Honore, Doussou Duudonne. Fitila Lamani and Bawa Fadil to chase their shadows.
In one of such attacks in the 80th minute, Selasie Adjie was given the ball in the box but once again he wasted the opportunity by hitting it against the on-rushing goalkeeper.
As the game headed for the end, defender Shaun October surged forward, outwitted his markers and gave an intelligent pass to substitute Kwame Kizito, but he also wasted the opportunity.
