Accra Hearts of Oak failed to advance to the league stages of the Confederations Cup competition, after they were held one all by Esperance De Tunis of Tunisia in the second leg of the knock-out stages of the competition.

Hearts who lost the first leg 4-0 in Tunisia, were confident of overturning the huge deficit started the game on a very good note by opening the scores in the 3rd minute through Isaac Mensah.

Mensah, who was well placed in the defence of the Tunisians headed home a cross from Isaac Oduro in what many thought, was the beginning of the much expected miracle.

Esperance after the goal compelled the Phobians to reduce the tempo of the game but this did not deter the home team from creating scoring chances.

Efforts from Foovi Aguidi and Paul Acquah were given equal attention by keeper Ben Cherifa.

Hearts were however confident of conjuring the much awaited miracle but it never came as the second saw them creating several chances falling on the way of substitute Gilbert Fiamenyo and Emmanuel Hayford.

The Tunisians, who were not in a rush to on the day resorted delay tactics by feigning injury with the slightest touch.

However they managed to make occasional counter breaks lead by Samuel Ndouk and

This worked for them in the dying stages of the game when the Tunisians after containing a strong attack from the Phobians, broke away with a swift attack led by Ndouk, whose cross found unchallenged Wassim NaghHouch who fired into the roof of the net for the equalizer.

It was the end of the dream for Hearts as the Tunisians qualified on 5-1 aggregate to make it to the league stages of the competition.