Hard win for Kotoko

Kumasi Asante Kotoko yesterday began their chase for the Confederation of African Football Champions League title with a 2-1 victory over relatively young Barrack Young Controllers(BYC) of Liberia at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The victory was secured through a brace by in-form Kwabena Adusei, who converted two penalty kicks to ensure a victory for the Porcupine Warriors whose supporters thronged the stadium to give them the team maximum support.

Although Kotoko dominated play throughout the game, their players wasted most of the scoring chances that came their way.

Aware of the pedigree of the Kotoko lads, the visitors played a  defensive game as they packed their rear and hardly came forward to launch any meaningful onslaught.

The first threat they posed to Kotoko resulted in the equaliser in the first half when Isaac Pupo expertly took a free kick on the edge of the penalty box of Kotoko and connected the ball beyond the reach of Kotoko goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye.

Kotoko nearly increased the tally in the 43rd minute but Larbi Coomson was fouled in the box. Burkinabe referee, Boukari Ouedraogo ignored an  appeal for a penalty.

The second half resumed with the Porcupine Warriors putting more pressure on the visitors and kept their defence very busy, forcing the BYC defenders to commit mistakes at the back.

The pressure by Kotoko yielded  result in the 71st minute when striker Seidu Bancey, who was in a goal scoring position, was fouled by Nathaniel Sherman in post for BYC.

Referee Ouedraogo did not hesitate in pointing to the penalty  spot and also booking the keeper for the foul.

 Adusei again put  the ball beyond the reach of the visitors’ goalkeeper to restore Kotoko’s lead.