Top4: Determined Kotoko break Liberty's resistance

Accra, Feb 8 GNA - Defending Top Four (4) champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko fought hard from a goal down to defeat Dansoman based Liberty Professionals by two goals to one in their second round match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The victory which moved Kotoko to the second position on the table and also confirmed their recent superiority over Liberty having defeated the Dansoman lads by a lone goal in their opening encounter at Kumasi. As is the case in recent matches between the two sides, Liberty opened up from the blast of the whistle and dominated with crisp short passes in the middle giving Kotoko's defence a Herculean task.

The first sign of Liberty's intent came in the fourth minute when Mohammed Tuala struck a fierce shot that ricocheted off the woodwork after goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan of Kotoko struggled to tip over the ball over the bar.

Liberty's midfield dominance was rewarded in the sixth minute when Asamaoh Gyan gained the upper hand in a goalmouth melee after Kotoko's defence had been carved opened to slot the ball into the net for the opening goal.

Kotoko accepted the challenge and pushed more men forward but Liberty's defence pivoted around James Dissarawah remained resolute and thwarted all the attempts of the visitors to find the equaliser to end the half in their favour.

Not able to break through the dense midfield of Liberty, Kotoko brought on veteran Frank Amankwah for Michael Asante to the disapproval of the fans.

On resumption, Kotoko pushed hard but time and time again, the Liberty lads proved unyielding forcing the "Red lads" to make their second substitution by bringing on Stephen Oduro for Edmund Owusu-Ansah in the 63rd minute.

This time around, the Kotoko resilience worked, as after two minutes of his inclusion, a long throw from Amankwah saw Frank Osei applying his head to a flick on to direct the ball into the far corner of the net for the much waited equaliser.

The goal brought more urgency into the play of Kotoko in search for the winner, which nearly came in the 77th minute when a blunder by Emmanuel Frimpong in the middle for Liberty resulted in a quick counter attack by Kotoko which allowed Willam Teiro a free way but for a daring save by Patrick Antwi.

Kotoko's pressure paid off deep into injury time when Nana Arhin Duah tapped a free kick expertly taken by Stephen Oduro home for the match winner.

For his hard work, Asamoah Gyan was adjudged the best player of the match.