Premier League newcomers Samartex FC held Hearts of Oak to a thrilling 0-0 draw in the Ghana Premier League match-week 13 encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Accra Hearts of Oak failed to bounce back to winning ways after sharing spoils with Samartex FC on Sunday afternoon.
Samartex FC enjoyed majority of the game possession but they were unlucky upfront as Raymond Kwofie’s thunderbolt strike was denied by the woodwork after the hour-mark.
The visitors kept tormenting the back line of Hearts of Oak with the aim of getting the lead in the opening minutes of the game but their attempts went futile.
Hearts of Oak came close to snatch the lead on the 18th minute through Eric Esso after brilliantly connecting a corner-kick effected by Salifu Ibrahim but a timely goal-line clearance of goalkeeper Lawrence Ansah denied them.
After the hour-mark, Samartex FC were resolute at the back with the pressure mounted on them by the Hearts of Oak upfront.
Kwofie nearly gave Samartex FC the lead with an audacious strike by his effort went straight into the woodwork on the 38th minute of the game.
The first half of the match failed to produce any goal despite the few goal glaring opportunities which fell for the two sides.
In the second half, Coach Slavko Matic made a tactical substitution with the introduction of Linda Mtange, Clinton Appiah and Benjamin Yorke as replacement for Gideon Asante, Isaac Mensah and Yaw Amankwah Baafi respectively.
Congolese international Linda Mtange nearly registered his first goal for Hearts of Oak on the 47th minute but a timely presence of Lawrence Ansah denied him from causing any havoc for Samartex.
Samartex also came close through Francis Gyentuah and Seidu Abubakar but their strikes on the 51st and 55th minute respectively went off target.
The Timber Giants kept frustrating the hosts with their game plan of defending and launching fearsome attacks but they were resolute at the back denying Hearts of Oak of stealing a late win.
Linda Mtange came close once again in the dying embers of the game with a stunning free-kick but he was denied by the woodwork as the game ended in 0-0 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Source: Kickgh.com
