Kotoko, Goldfields Booted Out Of Cup Championship

Accra, July 1, Kumasi Asante Kotoko crashed out of the ABC/FA cup competition, when Ghapoha Readers licked them 4-3 on penalties in their semi-final match played at the Accra Sports Stadium today. Full time and extra time remained scoreless, and in the tie-breaking shoot-out, Ghapoha converted four kicks as against three by Kotoko. Ghapoha will therefore meet Okwawu United, 1-0 winners over Obuasi Goldfields in Kumasi, in the finals. Right from kick-off, the game was concentrated mainly in mid-field, and the few occasions that the opposing strikers ventured into each other's territory, they messed up things in front of goal. Both sides displayed poor shooting upfront, with Kotoko as the worst offenders. Kotoko should have opened the scoring from over-lapping full back Annor Kofi's cross in the 31st minute, but left winger Joseph Adjei shot wide from close range, with only veteran goalkeeper Edward Ansah to beat. Kotoko, the once dreadful "Kum apem a, apem beba" side, were a pale shadow of themselves, as they wasted five more obvious goal-scoring chances in the half. The two sides made three changes each in the second half, but neither of them could break the deadlock in both regulation period and extra time. In the penalty shoot-out, Daniel Edusei, Michael Ofori-Mensah, Richard Nii Noi and substitute Fred Aboagye scored for Ghapoha, while Yaw Sekyi, Robert Boateng and Victor Aidoo converted for Kotoko. MORE