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Accra Hearts of Oak booked a place at the next stage of the CAF Confederations Cup  despite losing 1-0 to AC Djoliba of Mali in the second leg tie at the Accra Sports Stadium.
 

Coach Herbert Addo’s side who were going into the reverse encounter with a 2-1 advantage confirmed their place in the final round of the competition on the away goal rule.

The Phobians managed to contain the pressure from the Malians who were eager to course an upset at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The visitors looked more composed in the game as they dominated the entire first 45 minutes of the game piling on the pressure.

Great goalkeeping on the part of Soulama Abdulai and excellent defensive work by tall lanky Vincent Atinga kept the Phobians in the game.

Herbert Addo in an attempt to boost his attack in the second half  made some few changes bringing on fleet-footed winger Isaac Mensah for Thomas Abbey who looked quite on the day.

The change seemed to have sparked-up the Rainbow Club as they regain their momentum in the game creating some few descent chances.

Hearts were only denied their opening goal of the game after Eric Kumi’s strike was saved by goalkeeper Iddrissa in the 63rd minute.

A long range effort from midfielder Richard Yamoah was timely dealt by the Djoliba goalkeeper in the 67th minute.

An excellent piece of skill by winger Paul Acquah saw his final effort missing the post by inches in the 71st minute.

Djoliba on the other hand kept Hearts on tenterhooks after creating some few descent opportunities in the second half.

The visitors finally found their breakthrough when striker Lassina Diarra broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute after receiving a nice pass from midfield to slot it at the back of the net.

The visitors after the goal poured more men forward in search for the much winner but would be denied by clearances from ever present Vincent Atinga as the game ended 1-0 in favor of the away side.

The result means Hearts qualify on the away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate score line.