Hearts of Oak were held to a 0-0 draw by Pure Joy Stars in their final pre-season match before the start of the Ghana Premier League.
Hearts had won convincingly in the first two pre-season friendly encounters, but Pure Joy, taking cue from the beatings suffered by Global Academy and Accra Select Side, made the game as tight as possible denying the free-scoring Phobians clear cut opportunities at goal.
Head Coach David Duncan made three changes to his lineup with Samson Cudjoe, Nuru Sulley, and Ashittey Ollenu replacing Emmanuel Hayford, A. Abankwa, and Eric Kumi respectively from the starting eleven side that beat Accra Select Side 4-2.
Nii-Noi Thompson’s disciplined side commenced the action at the Accra Sports Stadium shading out possession in the first 10 minutes, but it was Duncan’s side that had the first attempt at goal when Moro Abubakar drove at goal on the edge of the box and narrowly missed the upright in the third minute.
At the other end, Pure Joy Stars were gaining grounds on the left hand side of the Hearts defense, and they opened Hearts up on the that flank, but Issa Wahab who had escaped the attention of Owusu Bempah was flagged offside.
Hearts travel to New Edubiase United on the opening day on 15 September.
HEARTS XI: Tetteh Luggard (45 Philemon McCarthy); Kweku Andoh (80 Emmanuel Ansong), Owusu Bempah, Robin Gnange, Nuru Sulley; Moro Abubakar, Ashittey Ollenu (45 Winful Cobbinah), Samson Cudjoe (83 Gilbert Fiamenyo), Thomas Abbey; Romeo Agban (Eric Kumi 66), Selasie Adjei (Kenneth Okoro 62)
Unused subs: Gabriel Darko
PURE JOY STARS XI:
Godfred Amoah; Issa Wahab, Emmanuel Bentil, Stephen Teye, Alex Arthur; Shamsu Halidu/Ben Ackah, Anthony Yawson, Emmanuel Nettey, Robert Abanga/Sibilla Ayama; Dennis Bortier, Maxwell Markwei/Ibrahim Abu
Unused subs: Adom Ampofo, Amin Salifu, David Agyemang
