Kotoko close in on Hearts
Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s resurgence under caretaker coach Michael Osei was given another shot in the arm after the Porcupine Warriors defeated Inter Allies 1-0 yesterday to move up to the third position on the league log. Kotoko are now just two points off Premier League leaders and arch-rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, who played a 1-1 draw away to second-placed Aduana Stars.
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On a weekend in which the top three sides failed to win, Kotoko leapfrogged Wa All Stars, who dropped to the fourth position after holding Ashantigold to a scoreless draw at Obuasi.
Yesterday at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kotoko’s captain Amos Frimpong converted a 59th minute spot kick to secure their fourth successive victory and also move up the league log, writes Donald Ato Dapatem.
Despite going into the match as favourites, Kotoko were matched squarely by the visiting team in the first half which saw both sides missing glorious scoring chances.
The rains set in three minutes to the end of the first half, but as if by divine intervention, the skies cleared immediately the second half resumed.
Barely 15 minutes after recess, Inter Allies’ Sulley Mohammed was shown the red card for a second bookable offence, which gave the home side a numerical advantage as they took the game to the Tema-based side.
It was an end-to-end display which saw Kotoko goalie Ernest Sowah denying the visiting side a goal after creating a number of decent chances.
But the game turned on its head in the 59th minute when Kotoko were awarded a penalty kick after Elvis Amoh was shoved off the ball by his Inter Allies marker. Skipper Frimpong scored home from the spot to the delight of the Kotoko supporters.
• At Dormaa-Ahenkro, Hearts ended Aduana’s five-match winning streak after Cosmos Dauda’s equaliser cancelled Godfred Saka’s 20th minute opening goal.
Saka set the stadium agog after putting his side a head through a well-taken free kick which swerved past the Hearts defenders and goalkeeper Samuel Akurugu.
However, the Phobians appeared energised in the second half as they piled pressure on Aduana until their defence caved in after Sam Yeboah’s cross down the by-line was tapped in by Dauda for a deserved equalising goal in the 66th minute.
• At the Dawu Park, Medeama SC staged a strong fight back from a two-goal deficit to hold Dreams FC to a 2-2 draw.