Corners, Kotoko for Mylik Cup final

KUMASI Cornerstone Babies and their city rivals Asante Kotoko Babies will clash in the final match of the prestigeous Mylik U-19 soccer tournament.

On Wednesday, a resolute Corners Babies qualified for the final at the expence of Feyenoord Fetteh beating them 5-2 in the semi-final encounter at the Accra Stadium. And yesterday, Kotoko Babies also edged out Kpando Heart of Lion by a lone goal to clinch the remaining slot to set a date for a titanic final clash against Cornerstone at the same venue tomorrow.

In their match against Feyenoord, Corners from a goal down, struck a 90th minute equaliser to send the game into penalty shoot-out which they eventually won 4-1 to book their place in tomorrow’s final.

The tournament, which has attracted low patronage, recorded one of its most thrilling encounters as Corners matched their blend of experience and determination against the skill and talent of the Feyenoord lads. At the end, Corners’ experience won as they fought from a goal down in the 15th minute, lost their captain through a red card incident in the 62nd minute and still managed to win the day.

Playing a match in which they had been highly tipped to win, Corners dominated the early stages of the game but had a rude shock when they went down before the end of the first half.

Not determined, Corners resumed the second half on a stronger note, constantly harrassing the defence of Feyenoord but good goalkeeping kept trouble at bay for the Fetteh lads.

Just as things were looking bright for Corners, whose earlier attempts at goal had either hit the goal post or been bravely saved by goalkeeper Philmon MacCarthy, they were reduced to 10 men when skipper Isaac Appiah was marched off for an off-thee-ball incident.

That momentarily disorganised them but they quickly regrouped and kept the pressure on till they found the equaliser when Agyeman Amoako squeezed the ball through a crowded Feyenoord goal mouth.

Feyenoord had the chance to win the day but their efforts at goal from a powerful long range shot grazed the post of an empty net to dash their hopes of a final berth.

They will now play the third place match against Kpando Heart of Lion who were defeated by Kotoko Babies, in their their semifinal encounter which was played yesterday.