CAF Champions League: Hearts of Oak gets slim win over Wydad Athletic Club
Accra Hearts of Oak recorded a 1-0 victory over Wydad Athletic Club at the Accra Sports Stadium to secure a slim advantage ahead of the return leg of their CAF Champions League second-round qualifying match in Morocco next week.
After a difficult opening first half-hour, where the Phobians came under incessant pressure from the Moroccans, Samuel Boadu’s men turned on the screws in the last ten minutes before the half-time break with a string of fascinating attacking moves.
Salifu forced a superb save from the WAC goalkeeper moments after Daniel Afriyie thought he should have had a penalty after being brought down by Tagnatoui in goal for Wydad Athletic Club.
But it did not take enough time for Hearts of Oak to find the opening when Salifu’s inch-perfect cross from the left was connected on the volley from 6 yards out by Isaac Mensah, sending the fans in the Accra Stadium into a rupture.
The second half started much the same way the first ended; with Hearts of Oak looking to double their lead.
Salifu presented perhaps Hearts best opportunity when Kofi Kordzi’s showed strength to fend of WAC defenders before laying the ball onto Salifu but sent his shot flying over the bar from 15 yards out.
Moments later, Kordzi then made an excellent left-footed strike into the near post but Tagnatoui palmed it away from danger.
Samuel Boadu brought on Victor Aidoo and Agyenim Boateng to replace Salifu Ibrahim and Kofi Kordzi to help solidify the results but a plethora of wrong calls by the referee halted this.
Entering the last ten minutes of the game, WAC found the back of the net but the assistant referee flagged for offside and it became a sign of relief to many of the Phobian fans present at the stadium.
Wydad Athletic Club play host to Hearts of Oak next weekend in Casablanca and the winner of this fixture over two legs will progress to the group stages of the Champions League.
