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Soccer News of Monday, 8 March 2004

Source: Soccer Express

Kotoko Beat Okwawu

Goalkeeping errors and unimaginative attack contributed to Okwawu United?s 0-2 loss to Champion club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko in a friendly match played at the Kumasi Sports stadium on Sunday.

With discussions on the appointment of new Chief Executive for Kotoko dominating the afternoon, the Porcupine Warriors kicked off after Asante Mampong-based referee Alhassan Brobbey had signalled them into action.

And for the greater part of the exchanges, the game was concentrated in the midfield until the 19th minute when Okwawu?s Yaro Kwabena was gifted with the ball but with only goalkeeper Alhassan Mohammed in sight shot wide off target.

Kotoko reacted almost immediately with a Stephen Owusu scissor-kick, which was tipped over the bar by Fataw Alhassan in post for Okwawu United.

Referee Brobbey issued his first caution card to Yaw Ohene in the 23rd minute for late-tackling Stephen Owusu.

With misses by both sides, Kotoko managed to find the back of the net in the 43rd minute through a connection of a Godfred Yeboah cross by William Tiero.

Okwawu nearly pulled even on the stroke of the first half but for an excellent save by Alhassan Mohammed who grabbed a grounder from the foot of Issah Wadaada.

The two teams effected a number of substitutions before the commencement of the second halfbut it was Kotoko who benefited by scoring again in the 67th minute through George Yamoah,

who had the easiest task of slotting the ball into the net after the Okwawu keeper had struggled to fist a harmless Godfred Yeboah cross over the bar.

As the game wore on, the spectators were subjected to a comic relief session by substitute Cameroonian import, Sajie Mbola, whose every touch of the ball was met with laughter from the stands.