Obuasi(Ash), Sept.17, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak on Saturday were held by visiting Asec Memosas of Abidjan to a pulsating goalless drawn game in the last MTN/CAF Group B Champions League match played at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium.
Hearts who were determined to win the match to save the Club's image to erase being branded as the only team in the competition that failed to score a single goal in their matches put up an improved performance but Asec proved a hard nut to crack.
Playing before a sparse crowd of their faithful supporters, Hearts took control of the match after Asec had staged an early threat of repeating the 3-0 goals inflicted in the fist leg in Abidjan and nearly took the lead in the 5th minute but Dan Quaye's shot sailed over the bar.
In the 11th minute, Eric Gawu made a dangerous move deep into the Asec defense area but his powerful shot was saved goalkeeper Kabore Mohammed.
Left off the hook, Asec made an incursion into Hearts vital area but the defence of Hearts pivoted around Daniel Coleman, Nana Egyiri and Saliu Muntari made sure that the youthful attackers of Asec spearheaded by Ya Konan Didier did not penetrate their ranks. Asec continued to dictate the pace otf the game with Die Foneye Vincent De Paul combining skillfully with Kone Kounatien and Diomande Tiecoura coming close to scoring but Kounetien's final shot went off target in the 14th minute.
In the 15th minute, Hearts Stanley Afedzi braced through the defence of Asec but his shot missed the post narrowly while another shot from Francis Bossman was save by the Asec keeper a minute later. With the heat still on Asec, Hearts earned a free kick just outside the box in the 20th minute but Bossman's shot hit the cross bar sailing over the bar.
The Ivorians said who played it cool but with swift and accurate passes, and now top the Group B with 12 points nearly found the net in the 29th minute but a header from Didier was saved by goalkeeper Sulemana Abubakari in posts for Hearts.
Hearts technical bench headed by coach Mitko Kostadinov brought on Joe Louis for Muntari in the 35th minute with Alfred Nii Larbi wasting a golden opportunity in the 36th minute.
On resumption of the second half, Asec nearly took the lead inn the 52nd minute, but Konan Didier could not get his foot to a pass to allow the Hearts keeper to make a timely save.
Keeper Abubakari nearly injured himself in the process when he collided with the attacker.
The Ivorians continued to pile pressure and nearly scored but a close range shot from Adendon Abdylaie was parried to a corner with the resultant kick wasted.
Hearts brought in Mohammed Bawa for Nii Larbi in the 59th minute to strengthen the attack but they continued to squander the chances that came their way.
They had a golden opportunity to get a face saving goal in the 62nd minute by just tapping in the ball in the net but substitute Bawa failed to connect home while Joe Louis also missed a chance a minute later to the amazement of the fans.
Asec mounted series of attacks when the rains set in heavily but the defence of Hearts managed to weather the storm with keeper Abubakari saving a dangerous move in the 84th minute when he did a yeoman's job by parrying a shot from Arthur Kacou Pierre to corner. 17 Sept. 06
