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Kumasi Asante Kotoko silence
Liberty Professionals 2-1
League leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko maintained their grip on
the leadership of the Onetouch Premier League when they
silenced Liberty Professionals with a 2-1 victory at their
own back yard, - the Dansoman Carl Reindorf Park on Sunday.
Kotoko have thus increased their total point build up to 27,
two clear points ahead of arch-rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak.
Liberty, ahead of the game had promised a victory,
reminiscent of the 3-0 thrashing of Kotoko last year at the
Ohene Djan Sports Stadium but did little to make their
dreams become a reality in the early stages of the game as
they allowed the 'Porcupine Warriors' to dominate
proceedings for the first quarter and early parts of the
second half of the game.
With the aggression and sense of urgency upfront of Kotoko
it was obvious that the possibility of an opener would come
their as it was clearly on the walls.
Through the combined efforts of Nana Arhin Duah and
overlapping defender Osei Kwame Jnr, the 'Fabulous' lads
shot ahead in the 21st minute through the effort of Kwame
Jnr who headed home a cross from the right flank after he
had outwitted young and inexperienced defender Richard Kissi
Boateng of Liberty.
Liberty responded quickly and reorganized themselves in
search of the equalizer.
After 18 minutes of search, the home team managed to level
up in the 39th minute through a grounder from the edge of
the box from Owusu Addae, after Kofi Nti Boakye had
struggled to place the ball on his path.
The shot took Kotoko's keeper Mohammed Alhassan by surprise
as the ball penetrated smoothly through a cluster of legs
into the corner of the goal post for the need equaliser.
The two sides struggled for the leader before the close of
the first half but it never materialised.
It became a battle of equal strengths in the second half as
the two sides unsuccessfully tried to outdo each other.
Kotoko's Kwame Obeng Darko had the best opportunity in the
54th minute put his side but with only keeper Nana Bonsu to
beat, he surprisingly shot straight into the keeper's
waiting hands.
The ball from then swung from one end of the field to the
other till substitute John Kudjoe, in a similar fashion to
that of Addai as fired a long range non-stop shot from the
edge of the box for the second goal and the eventual winning
goal for the 'Porcupine Warriors'.
The goal which brought a great breather to Kotoko, attracted
spontaneous jubilation from the hundreds of Kotoko fans at
the venue leading to the collapse of parts of the inner
perimeter.
Liberty struggled to return into the game in search of the
equalizer by introducing Tua Khamix for Micheal Osei, who
before his substitution was a constant threat to his former
team and Yaw Antwi for Rabiu Mohamed who had failed to
click.
Both sides missed the services of some of their key players
who are on national service with the national Under-23 team,
the Black Meteors.
Kotoko were without George Yamoah and Douglas Nkrumah whilst
Liberty missed the services of their talismatic Michel
Helegbe, Kotei Blankson, Eric Bekoe and Bawa Mohamed.
Their absence were however hardly felt as the two teams
played an uncompromising game to the admiration of the
packed Park.
Kotoko's defender Murtala Mohammed was voted the best player
of the match.
GNA
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