Ashgold beat Kotoko again

Champion club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, yesterday lost their first pre-season game after 25 matches when they succumbed 0-2 to their regional rivals, Ashantigold, in a friendly encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

It was the third defeat handed the Porcupine Warriors by the miners.

Emmanuel Baffour ' s 21st minute spot kick and playmaker, Ato Bissah's 74th minute masterpiece were enough to underline Ashantigold's recent dominance over Ghana’s reigning Premier League champions. 

Kotoko were simply cut to size as the miners greatly exposed them in all departments of the game..

The match was originally part of an Africa Kick Malaria Out campaign but the organisers decided to rescheduled the game for next year. However, the two teams agreed to engage each other in a two-leg friendly. The date for the second leg is yet to be fixed.

The poor attendance aside, Kotoko failed to sell out a great game to their hungry fans as Ashantigold dominated the first half with ease.

Kotoko's Ivorian import, from whom so much was expected to test Ashantigold returnee goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda, was heavily policed.

But kotoko's lack of urgency was even more pronounced in the second half as Ashantigold appeared content with the win.

Jordan Opoku's 65th minute pile driver and another minutes later, brought the best in Dauda who until then had been on a virtual holiday.