MTN FA Cup quarter-finals: Ashgold to deepen

MTN FA Cup holders, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, will today attempt to salvage what has been a tortuous campaign with victory when they host aspiring league champions, AshantiGold, in an oustanding MTN FA Cup quarter-final match at the Baba Yara Stadium.

It will be a repeat of last year’s abortive MTN FA Cup clash, which Ashgold boycotted on grounds that they could not bear the additional cost of transportation to honour, when it was rescheduled at the Accra Stadium due to a home ban imposed on the Porcupine Warriors by the GFA for misconduct..

While the Porcupine Warriors progressed without kicking a ball then, this time around they enter the game as underdogs after a poor start to the second round of the league.

With their bitter rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, already through to the semi-finals, Kotoko will be desperate to avoid a home defeat and move a step closer towards ending the season with a silverware.

Unlike the league where Kotoko have lost six of their 19 games, in the FA Cup the Porcupine Warriors have been imperviously scored 10 unanswered goals in only three outings.

Kotoko sealed qualification for the Round of 32 with a 4-0 win over Paga Crocrodiles on a grassless pitch at Bolga, hammered Birim DC United 5-0 before recording a slender 1-0 victory over Real Tamale United at the Baba Yara Stadium.

In contrast, the runaway league leaders, who boast a seven-point buffers, have no worries heading into the clash although Bashir Hayford won’t mind worsening the woes of his former employers.

Ashgold have not been as free-scoring as Kotoko in the FA Cup but have been just as efficient booking their place in the quarters with victories over Cornerstone (2-0), Wa African United (3-0) and Inter Allies 2-1.

For under-fire Kotoko coach, David Duncan, the game presents an opportunity to win back both the supporters and his players whom he accused of lacking the confidence required to win games following their 1-3 loss to Liberty Professionals last Sunday.

In other outstanding MTN FA Cup quarter-final clashes, Aduana Stars welcome Eleven Wise to the Agyemang Badu Park at Dormaa-Ahenkro and Medeama SC host West Africa Football Academy at the Tarkwa T & A Park.