Sharks, Hearts split points in Accra
Accra Hearts of Oak failed to glitter as they laboured to a 1-1 drawn game against visiting Elmina Sharks at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Two days after Kotoko thrashed Bechem United 3-1 at the same venue, Hearts fans thronged the stadium in their numbers hoping to see their side replicate the feat of their arch-rivals, but that was not to be as a determined Sharks side played a more purposeful game to split the points with the Phobians.
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Hearts took the game to the visitors at the blast of the whistle in search of an early goal, but the rugged nature of the pitch made it difficult for ball control, possession and passes.
Nonetheless, the Phobians started making inroads into the territory of their opponents at the early part of the game, but Kofi Kordzi, Emmanuel Nettey and Joseph Esso fumbled each time they got to the vital area of Elmina Sharks.
Against the run of play in the 24th minute, Sharks winger Dennis Mensah volleyed the ball into the back of the net when he beat Hearts Benjamin Kotey Afutu to an aerial ball and slotted the ball home for the match opener.
Equaliser
The goal silenced the Hearts fans but it galvanised the Phobians who started piling pressure on their opponents for the much needed equaliser.
The defenders of Sharks, made up of Richard Mpong, Edmond Asiedu and skipper Daniel Obeng Crentsil, however, built a wall to ward off the Hearts attack.
The persistence of Hearts paid off in the 35th minute when Kofi Kordzi connected Emmanuel Nettey’s curled corner into the bottom corner of the net for the equaliser.
Hearts came close to taking the lead in the 40th minute but an inter-play involving Nettey, Kordzi and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh was wasted.
Poor conversion
After the break Hearts took charge of affairs and laid siege in the Sharks area but couldn’t find the cutting edge and finesse in front of goal.
After the 60th minute, the homesters appeared rather tired and sluggish on the ball, causing Sharks to take charge of the game with ball joggler and speedster Benjamin Tweneboah weaving past his opponents with ease.
Sharks nearly found the net in the 72nd minute but missed narrowly to the relief of the Hearts fans.
In one of his attacks, Tweneboah dribbled past his two markers in the Hearts area and released the ball to Boateng but his final touch missed again.
With the fans yelling for more goals, Hearts made a last minute attempt but failed to find the net and eventually shared the points with Sharks.