AN 80th minute strike by nimble-footed Elvis Opoku halted the winning spree of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and gave his side Kwaebibirem United of Asuom a 2-1 victory in their friendly encounter at the Kumasi Stadium yesterday.

The game exposed the weakness of Kotoko at the central defence where Alex Dzanie and Frank Atsou operated.

The two goals conceded by Kotoko in the 67th and 80th minutes by Samuel Sowah and Opoku respectively, came about as a result of defensive blunders by Atsou and Dzanie, who failed to police the Kwaebibirem attackers effectively and on both occasions, the visitors took advantage and punished Kotoko.

After a scoreless first half in which Kotoko wasted a lot of chances, the two sides resumed the second half with renewed determination to carry the day with Kotoko looking more dangerous.

In the 47th minute, skipper Joe Otchere failed to put Kotoko ahead when he missed a scoring opportunity, with only the opposing goalkeeper at his mercy.

Two minutes later, it was goalkeeper Theodore Atsou of Kwaebibirem who rescued his side by parrying Otchere’s shot to safety.

In the 66th minute however, substitute Shilla Alhassan scored Kotoko’s only goal.

But that excitement was short-lived as a combination by Sowah and Salifu Shaban saw Frank Atsou chasing the shadows of the Kwaebibirem strikers and Sowah made no mistake by cleverly firing home the equaliser.

In the 80th minute, Opoku disposed of two opponents, outwitted goalkeeper Louis Quainoo in the box and blasted home the match winner.