Hearts of Oak maintained their unbeaten run against West African Football Academy after playing out a pulsating 0-0 draw at the WAFA Park in Sogakope on Sunday afternoon.Â
This was a highly entertaining game crowned with a massive fan attendance as the Phobians appears to have sealed their fate should Kotoko reclaim their boardroom points.
Referee Sylvester Adjoku controversially ignored what appeared a legitimate penalty won by Hearts just before half-time.
Hearts of Oak made a short trip to the Volta Region to seal their fate in the Ghanaian top-flight bearing in mind they could fall into the drop zone the Ghana FA's Appeals Committee overturn the decision that gifted them 3 points against bitterest-rivals Asante Kotoko.
But their commanding run against the Academy youngsters inspired them further to claim the maximum points at stake. WAFA had not won against the Phobians at any venue since their debut appearance in the Ghanaian top-flight in 2004 while the records in the final day of the season has never favoured them.
Hearts stop-gap coach Eddie Ansah made five changes to his side that defeated Chelsea in their last home of the season but Kwame Kizito was prominently handed another start in attack despite his profligacy against Chelsea.
WAFA missed captain Martin Antwi who suffered an injury last weekend as well as goalkeeper Felix Annan who is on international duty with Ghana's U23 side in Congo but Dutch trainer John Killer named Charles Boateng, Majeed Ashimeru, Gideon Mensah and Gideon Waja in his squad.
The Phobians took charge of the game and played dominated possession, using experience to outplay WAFA especially in midfield. But the precocious talent of Ashimeru and Zakaria Mumuni sometimes reminded Hearts of Oak to be careful.
Emmanuel Hayford and Emmanuel Laryea bossed the midfield created a host of chances but Kizito and Foovi failed to converted. Foovi, who played for Togo during the 2017 AFCON qualifiers last weekend, should have scored for Hearts but he missed narrowly.
Referee Sylvester Adjoku came in for criticism from Hearts of Oak players and technical bench while fans angrily reacted when he failed to award what appeared a legitimate penalty to the Phobians just before the break.
Hearts pressed and piled pressure on their host but failed to find the back of the net before the game petered out.
Eddie Ansah handed a debut to 17-year-old midfielder Emmanuel Odartey who came off the bench in the 85th minute to replace Emmanuel Hayford.