Okrah, Arthur’s goals silence Etoile

Augustine Okrah and Richard Arthur of Kumasi Asante Kotoko became the heroes for their club when their goals propelled the Porcupine Warriors to defeat Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia 2-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday in their first leg, second round of the CAF Champions League.

The match, which attracted many Kotoko fans to the stadium, saw the Porcupine Warriors scoring in each half in a tantalising performance to set the packed stadium agog in an atmosphere not seen in recent times.

It was Okrah who set the stadium literally ablaze with an immaculate left footed opener from the edge of the box to put the Porcupine Warriors ahead in the third minute.

Arthur's 55th minute strike put the icing on the cake and ignited the stadium with constant applause, shouts for more goals as they called for the inclusion of Burkinabe Songne Yacouba to increase the tally.

But he was to wait till the 61st minute when he came on for goal scorer, Arthur. And he did not disappoint.

Kotoko took charge early with blistering runs down the flanks as Emmanuel Gyamfi, Justice Blay, Jordan Opoku and Arthur surged upfront to do the needful.

But the experienced Etoile du Sahel side refused to budge under a rather intimidating atmosphere created by the about 40,000 home fans.

They threatened intermittently but Kotoko always had the upper hand with a couple of pile drivers from Blay and George Abege.

Despite the lead, Kotoko never had their peace from the 30th minute when Ariri Karim, Ben Arbi Firas and the Almighty Lahmar Hamaz put the defence under severe pressure.

From then, each side had their fair share of opportunities but Kotoko were more focused, one of which Okrah hit the woodworks in the 37th minute.

Talisman, Gyamfi, who so much was expected from, became a target for reckless tackles but never relented in his fight which nearly fetched Kotoko the second in the 40th minute but Referee Hasan Corneh of Liberia rejected an appeal for a penalty.

Songne Yacouba's inclusion in the 61st minute brought more excitement into the attacking machinery as his combination with Gyamfi confused the visitors.

Backed by the incessant cheering by the fans, Kotoko's confidence soared each moment, pinning the 'stubborn' Etoile to their own half.

That notwithstanding, the Etoile side still had the urge to make occasional threatening moves but they were all thwarted.