DAWU shock Kotoko

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 7 DEC. '97 Dawu Youngsters showed no sympathy for trouble-hit Asante Kotoko as they beat them 3-2 in their match at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. Dawu twice came from behind to level up and tore the Kotoko defence into shreds in the closing stages of the game to snatch the match winner in the 84th minute. Referee Rockiefeller Mensah of Tema spared Kotoko the agony of humiliation when he disallowed Dawu's fourth goal which looked a perfect one by all standards in the 86th minute. The defeat made the teeming supporters of Kotoko leave the stadium wondering whether the new IMC headed by Mr. E.K. Adu, has anything to offer the club. After observing a minute silence in memory of the late Shamo Quaye, Kotoko raised their hopes of carrying the day with a second minute goal, scored by Prince Adu-Poku. Dawu countered and in the 21st minute, Laud Oscar shot wide. They replaced defender Richard Nartey in the 23rd minute with Sammy Doe in a bid to tighten their defence. Referee Mensah showed Adu-Poku the yellow card in the 24th minute for dissent and three minutes later Adu-Poku missed narrowly with a low header and he was replaced immediately with Joe Acheampong. Dawu equalised in the 29th minute through Andrew Fomanyo, who after collecting a long pass raced past the Kotoko defence and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Abukari Kankani into the net. Kotoko pulled out Eric Adofo in the 32nd minute for Usmanu Ansara and had a golden chance in the 41st minute to restore their lead when Frank Agyei beat Dawu's off-side trap but lobbed the ball over the bar from close range. Agyei atoned for his earlier mistake when he restored Kotoko's lead in the 61st minute with a low header which beat goalkeeper Sumaila Abdulai and missed a second goal a minute later when similar header hit the crossbar. Dawu replaced goalkeeper Abdulai with Leonard Moffat in the 67th minute and snatched the equaliser in the 80th minute through Doe Aziz. Having seized the midfield, Dawu piled on the pressure and succeeded in snatching the match winner in the 84th minute through Kwaku Botson. GRi