Hearts of Oak snatched a 1-1 draw away to Karela United on match-day 21 of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League (GPL) Sunday afternoon.
The two sides cancelled each other out with goals in the second half of the game at the Crosby Awuah Memorial (CAM) Park in Aiyinase.
After a drub opening half, former Hearts forward Maxwell Boakye came off the bench to break the deadlock 20 minutes after his introduction.
Boakye, who came on for Richard Berko in the 53rd minute, was on hand to blast home from close range in the 73rd after lead man Diawisie Taylor’s initial strike was blocked.
Karela could have increased the lead almost after going ahead but goalkeeper Ben Mensah pulled two great saves to deny Boakye who powerfully struck from distance and an Umar Basiru header from scoring further.
The Phobians slowly responded and got a deserving equalizer in the 87th minute through Ibrahim Salifu’s corner kick that was perfectly met by a header from substitute Kwadwo Obeng Jnr.
Hearts almost snatched the winner in additional time but for Daniel Afriyie Barnieh’s decision to go for glory instead of setting up his teammates. His strike into the near post drew a top save from Karela goalkeeper Yaw Ansah Fufuro with the game ending in a 1-1 stalemate.
The draw means Karela United have gone winless in the second round of the campaign – held at home twice by AshantiGold and now Hearts while losing back-to-back against Inter Allies and Dreams FC.
The Passioners – who for a spell, led the league for 10 weeks – now find themselves 5th in the standings with 33 points, one behind Hearts who move third after 21 matches.
📸🗣| The STANDINGS – 2020/21 #GPLwk21:
– @MedeamaSC emerge new leaders, Liberty out of relegation zone:
1️⃣. Medeama SC
2️⃣. Asante Kotoko
3️⃣. Hearts of Oak
4️⃣. Gt. Olympics
……….
1️⃣6️⃣. XI Wonders
1️⃣7️⃣. King Faisal
1️⃣8️⃣. Inter Allies.#FootyGPL | https://t.co/x4UJ3Gk4sE | pic.twitter.com/CiHGASQLzr
— Footy-Ghana.com 🇬🇭 (@FootyGhana) April 25, 2021
