Bamako --- One of Ghana's representatives at this year's CAF Champions League, Accra Hearts of Oak were reduced to nine men at the later stages of the first leg, first round preliminary match against "old foes" Stade Malien but managed to hold their opponents to a goalless drawn game at the Madibo Keita Sports Stadium in Bomako, Mali, on Sunday evening.
Hearts survived a deliberate attempt by both fans and officials of the Malian team to frustrate them coupled with some bizarre decisions by Moroccan referee Rousi Khali and his two assistants Ayoub Mohamed and Abdel Kitabhri.
It all started on Friday afternoon when some supporters and officials of the home team subjected Hearts officials to severe beatings during a training session and while the game was in progress on Sunday, irate Malian fans hurled missiles at both the technical team and the reserve players for no apparent reason.
In what appeared to be a planned move to frustrate the Phobians, the referee ruled every single move by Hearts attackers offside and capped his dismal performance by giving the marching orders to Amankwa Mireku and Francis Bossman for second bookable offences.
The results put Hearts in a better position to pay back the Malians who under Ghanaian coach Abdul Razak booted the Phobians out in the first round in 2001. And this is exactly what the playing body has resolved to do in a fortnight away where the two sides at expected to meet at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Hearts after absorbing the initial pressure turned the heat on the Malian side with speedster Lawrence Adjei being a thorn in their flesh, delivering several crosses into their vital area, but which unfortunately were not connected.
The Ghanaians never relented in their efforts to find the net as they continued with their incessant attack but Adjei and veteran Emmanuel Osei Kuffour failed to convert some decent chances that came their way.
The Malians in the first 20 minutes had managed to get hold of the midfield and made attempts at scoring but were on most occasions, denied the opportunity by the Hearts rearguard including goalkeeper Sammy Adjei who made some wonderful saves.
From then on, the game swung from one end to the other as the Malians found it very difficult to go past the Hearts back line made of skipper Amankwa Mireku, Dan Quaye, Kwabena Boafo and Dan Coleman, and had to resort to long balls, which also never yielded any result. The Stade Malien team began the seconds half a rejuvenated side and right from the blast of the whistle of the referee, flooded the Hearts goal area with their long balls.
Coach Ernst Middendorp had to pull out arrowhead Ablade Morgan for Alfred Nii Larbi, who moments after coming in the 50th minute revived the Hearts' attack and managed to combined beautifully with Lawrence Adjei. Two minutes after coming on, Larbi mesmerized the Malian defence and laid on a perfect pass for Adjei but he shot feebly into the hands of the opponents' goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Sammy Adjei had his first biggest test when pulled a dramatic save in the 60th from a Coulibally Drissa's shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Nii Larbi became a constant threat to the Malian defence but his efforts were either thwarted or ruled offside by the Moroccan referee. Goalkeeper Adjei stood between the Malians and a goal harvest as he frustrated their efforts at goal, parrying four dreadful free kicks to safety with only a quarter of playing time remaining.
Kuffour also had his share of wastage opportunities when after penetrating deep into the vital area of the homesters, delivered a harmless shot into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Campore Abdul Rashid in the 84th minute.
Middendorp made two quick substitutions after Mireku and Bossman were been sent out. First he brought on Samed Abdul for substitute Nii Larbi and later substituted Samed for Kwame Antwi for a more defensive role.
In a very characteristic manner, Coach Middendorp got off his seat after the two players had been given the marching orders to yell at the match officials but had to be prevented by the fourth referee.
Stade Malien failed to utilize their numerical advantage to score. The few Ghanaians resident in Bamako who made it to the Stadium hailed the Phobians after the game and covered them with the team's tri-coloured flag of red, yellow and blue.
Line up (Hearts): Sammy Adjei, Dan Quaye, Amankwah Mireku, Dan Coleman, Kwabena Boafo, Adjah Tetteh, Lawrence Adjei, Francis Bossman, Ablade Morgan/Alfred Nii Larbi/Samed Abdul/Kwame Antwi, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Bernard Don Bortey.
2004 Champions League
2003 champions: Enyimba (Nigeria)The full draw for the early rounds of the 2004 African Champions League:
Preliminary round:
Friday March 5Al-Ittihad (LBA) 1-0 Sahel (NIG)
Saturday March 6
Hassania Agadir (MAR) 7-0 Nasr Sebkha (MTN)
Bakili Bullets (MAW) 2-1 SC Villa (UGA)
Petro Atletico (ANG) 3-1 Atletico Malabo (GEQ)
SuperSport Utd (RSA) 5-0 Civics (NAM)
ASFA Yennenga (BUR) 3-2 Julius Berger (NGR)
Toamasina (MAD) v St Michel (SEY) - Postponed until Monday 8 March due to bad weather
Sunday March 7
Stade Tamponnaise (REU) v Port Louis (MRI) -Port Louis advance after Stade Tamponnaise withdraw
St George (ETH) 1-2 Al-Hilal (SUD)
Matlama (LES) 0-3 Orlando Pirates (RSA)
Simba (TAN) 1-0 Zanaco (ZAM)
APR (RWA) 7-1 Anseba (ERI)
Dragons l'Oueme (BEN) 1-1 Douanes (TOG)
St Michel (CGO) 2-0 Bitam (GAB)
Asante Kotoko (GHA) v Tempte Mocaf (CAR) - Asante Kotoko advance after CAR clubs withdraw
Armed Forces (GAM) 0-3 Jeanne d'Arc (SEN)
Vita (DRC) v Ulinzi Stars (KEN) -Vita advance after Ulinzi Stars withdraw due to lack of funds
Stade Malien (MLI) 0-0 Hearts of Oak (GHA)
Aviacao (ANG) 1-1 Cimenterie Lukala (DRC)
ASFAG (GUI) 0-1 Diaraf (SEN)
Amazulu (ZIM) 3-1 Maxaquene (MOZ)
Second legs: weekend of March 19-21.
