Asante Kotoko galie Razak Abalora was voted man of the match in his side’s goalless draw against Hearts of Oak on Sunday.
The former WAFA goalkeeper committed a 70th-minute penalty on Phobian striker Isaac Mensah but Abalora made amends by saving Mensah’s kick to keep the game at 0-0.
The fixture represented a Week 14 fixture was rescheduled to February 28th.
Kwame Poku – who has scored 6 goals this season – missed the opportunity to break the deadlock under one minute and Mensah wasted his chance from 12 yards out in the 70th minute.
Poku himself was brought down in the box by Hearts of Oak defender Nuru Sulley just 100 seconds into the game and referee Selorm Yao Bless did not hesitate to point to the spot immediately. The 6-goal striker elected himself to take the kick but his poor effort was superbly saved by Richard Attah who dived correctly to the right side at full stretch to deny the Kotoko striker.
The former Elmina Sharks goalkeeper saved the penalty kick at a cost as he needed medical attention right away after the masterclass.
Hearts of Oak continued to dominate the game in terms of ball possession as they forced their opponents to sit deep in their own half. Patrick Razak hit the post in the 6th minute but he was eventually flagged offside and Obeng Kojo should have done better with his 9th-minute opportunity.
The next big chance for Kotoko – who played as the home team – came in the 32nd minute when Naby Keita shot over the bar after Latif Anabila squared a good ball for him in the area.
The second half began with both sides firing at each other. First, Razak fired a shot off target in the 49th minute before Kotoko’s Keita forced a save from goalkeeper Attah in the 50th. Porcupine Warriors captain Emmanuel Gyamfi’s also saw his effort in the 64th minute once again stopped by the influential Attah.
Hearts of Oak caretaker head coach Nii Noi brought on striker Isaac Mensah for Obeng Kojo at the hour mark before Michelle Sarpong replaced Victor Aidoo in the 69th minute. Mensah went on to earn his team a 70th-minute penalty as he was brought down by the Kotoko keeper Razak Abalora. The former Nkoranza Warriors striker came forward to take the kick but his poor effort was parried away by Abalora to keep the game at 0-0.
On the other hand Johnson Smith brought on midfielder Adom Frimpong for Emmanuel Sarkodie in the 57th minute before Mudasiru Salifu replaced striker Keita in the 62nd.
With six minutes from time Kwame Poku drifted away from center back Mohammed Alhassan to unleash a powerful strike that kissed the joint of the crossbar and right goal post of Richard Attah as the mammoth encounter failed to produce a winner.
