Liberty, Kotoko in six-goal thriller

Accra, July 5, GNA - Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals foiled Asante Kotoko's title ambitions when they held them to a 3-3 drawn game in their Week 27 Glo Premier League encounter on Sunday at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra.

Displaying probably their best performance of the season, Liberty came from two goals down in the first half to take the lead in the second half before Kwadwo Poku restored parity for Kotoko in added-on time. The 'Porcupine Warriors' led 2-0 at half time, a signal that clearly put their ambitions of closing-up the two point gap on leaders Hearts of Oak, only for a spirited second half performance by Liberty to defuse that quest into a mirage.

The maximum points were also crucial for the Dansoman-lads in their battle against relegation but have themselves to blame for allowing the late equalizer from Poku.

Both sides finished the game with substituted goalkeepers and it worked for Liberty as Daniel Agyei conceded on a goal while Abdoulaye Soulama had to pick the ball thrice from his post. After a bright start, which saw Liberty's Yaw Antwi and Yaw Antwi coming close at breaking the deadlock, it was rather Kotoko who got the opener against the run the play.

On 23 minutes, Poku headed home the opener from Harrison Afful's corner after Liberty's goalie Tunde Adekunle was caught off guard. Eight minutes on, Alex Asamoah doubled the lead after Poku had flicked Jordan Opoku's cross from a free-kick unto his path with Adekunle once again beaten to the ball.

It was Asamoah's 15th goal of the season and keeps him on course for the goal king title.

Four minutes after the second goal, Adekunle whose timing was suspect was replaced by Agyei and three minutes to the end of the first half Soulama came on for an injured Isaac Amoako, who could not continue with play following a knock from an earlier collision with a Liberty striker.

Liberty resumed the half strongly and on 57th minute, Latifu reduced the deficit by slotting past Soulama following a through pass from Ghandy Kassenu.

Kotoko's midfielder Daniel Nii Agyei who was played at an unusual right back position leaked terribly as Latifu beat him severally anytime on the offensive.

On 68 minutes, Kamal Issah levelled for Liberty with a deceptive glancing shot that caught the entire Kotoko defence off guard. Liberty kept the pressure on Kotoko and substitute Kelvin Kouadio was unlucky as his power-laden shot eight minutes later was parried out by Soulama.

Two minutes later, Latifu put Liberty in the lead for the first time in the game with a curling shot from a goal mouth scramble through a sea of Kotoko defenders before the ball zoomed into the net. With victory almost in sight for Liberty, Poku who was left unmarked grabbed the much needed equalizer on the stroke of time with a half volley from Afful's free-kick.