By Akyereko Frimpong Manson
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Accra Hearts of Oak failed to snatch a CAF Champions League spot after ending the season with a 2-2 stalemate with New Edubiase United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Selasi Adjei steered a header home in the 14th minute to open the scoring for the Phobians but Eric Fordjour's 61st minute penalty restored parity for the visitors.
But Hamza Fuseini restored the lead for Hearts with a 76th minute header.
A 99th minute Asiedu Attobrah header saw Edubiase pull even in a game marred by fans anger against the center referee.
Mohammed Polo was without center-backs Philip Boampong and Robin Gnagne for his last game in charge of the Phobians as they duo suffered serious head injuries in the Kotoko stalemate.
The former Hearts legend made three changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Kotoko by handing returns to Cobbinah, Fatau and Abra-Aziz Abankwa.
Nuru Sulley took over the armband while Ollenu Ashitey and Selasi Adjei held down their place.
While influential attacker Winful Cobbinah returns, defender Kweku Andoh missed the tie with suspension.
Edubiase had their inspirational attacker Asiedu Attobrah in the starting line-up as well as the Nuhu brothers.
The Phobians went into the game with just two points within the reach of second-placed Heart of Lions and knew they could overtake them to snatch a CAF Champions League ticket if they secure a win at the Accra Sports Stadium and Lions fail to get positive results at AshGold in Obuasi.
Cobbinah blazed a power shot from a free-kick and missed a one-two pass from Selasi Adjei before Eugene Amoah was denied from close range.
Moments later, Hearts took the lead. Winful Cobbinah lifted an intelligent cross for Selasi Adjei who outmuscled his markers to head the ball past Seidu Iddrisu for the opener.
Hearts continued to press forward for more goal but Edubiase tried to gag the midfield space while the Phobians refused to relent. Emmanuel Laryea got booked for a high-footed challenge in the 28th minute. Late in the half, Laryea escaped a send-off despite elbowing Asiedu Attobrah.
Six minutes after the interval, Edubiase were reduced to ten men after Nartey Polo was marched off for handling the ball on the goal line. The Edubiase captain had been booked earlier in the half and the second booking meant end of his afternoon.
Polo shuffled his cards and brought on the speedy Paul Acquah to take the place of Ollenu Ashitey in a bid to pile more pressure on the visitors.
Asiedu Attobrah was fouled by Hamza inside the box and Eric Fordjour stepped up to rifle the ball to the blank side of Tetteh Luggard.
Polo push more men on as Emmanuel Hayford was replaced by Gerald Wellington Odupong.
But Hamza atoned for his penalty cost to his side by heading home the winner for the Phobians in the 76th minute.
Influential midfielder Kofi Abanga made a last-minute appearance, replacing the injured Selasi Adjei in the 87th minute.