Kumasi Asante Kotoko defeated Real Tamale United (RTU) 2-1 in their match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

Kotoko kicked-off brilliantly and earned a fifth minute corner-kick when RTU came under pressure but Burkinabe striker Kambou Clovis shot off target from close range.Rampaging Kotoko could not score again in the 10th minute when unmarked right winger Ernest Boateng latched onto a pass in the vital area but shot wide.

Kotoko were awarded a spot-kick in the 22nd minute when central defender Thomas Quaye of RTU slipped and fell in the box and touched the ball in the process.

Left winger Gordon Ablordey converted the kick to give Kotoko the opener.

RTU accepted the challenge and repulsed the menacing moves of Kotoko as slippery inside left Shila Alhassan sliced through the Kotoko defence with ease.

But the visitors were to concede a second goal in the 38th minute through Togolese Frank Atsu who scored from close range after full back Joseph Hendrix had pushed the ball into his path from a free-kick.

After the goal, Kotoko failed to impress and allowed RTU to pile on the pressure as the stamina-suspect Kotoko players played on the defensive.

Despite three substitutions by Kotoko as against two by RTU in the second half, it was RTU who dictated the pace of the game as the Kotoko players appeared to have lost concentration.

Man-of-the-match, inside right Stephen Oduro pulled a goal back for RTU in the 88th minute from a free-kick which hit the post and dropped into the net with goalkeeper Micheal Abu displaced.