GPL: Real Tamale United hold Hearts of Oak to a barren draw at home
Real Tamale United played out a 0-0 draw with ten-man Hearts of Oak at the Tamale Sports Stadium to end the first half of the season.
The Phobians made seven changes to the starting line-up for the last outing against Great Olympics with Sulley Muntari getting first as well as Daniel Korsah making his long awaited debut at left back.
Isaac Mensah was also given the nod to start ahead of Kofi Kordzi with Salim Adams retuning to the line up to beef up attack and midfield.
In the first half, Hearts were presented with some key chances but failed to convert them with the first coming in as Muntari took a corner kick which would have ended at the back of the net had it not been that the RTU handled situations properly to grab the ball in the air.
Hearts of Oak mounted another with Fatawu Mohammed whipping in a cross from the right but it was easily saved by Yaw Osei but the keeper clashed with Isaac Mensah.
Both players had to be given medical attention before the game continued.
Isaac Mensah was presented with a chance to give Hearts the lead on 12 minutes but his first touch was poor and had to sky his effort.
Before half-time, Mensah missed the opener by a whisker after latching onto a pass from Daniel Barnieh as Salim Adams also delivered a trademark long drive but saw his effort narrowly go off-target.
Hearts had to play the final seven minutes of the game with ten men after Caleb Amankah was sent off for a second yellow card.
Hearts of Oak are now 12 points behind eternal rivals Asante Kotoko who they take on next week in the last outstanding game of the first round at the Accra Sports Stadium.