Kumasi Asante Kotoko walloped lower division side Birim DC United 5-2 at the Baba Yara Stadium in the round of 32 of the MTN FA Cup on Thursday.

The Porcupine Warriors were able to recover from their disappointing exit from the Caf Champions League over the weekend as they seek to defend the title they won last season.

Latif Awudu stole the show after grabbing a hat-trick, while Richard Oti and Prince Boffoe added the other two goals to complete the rout. Delasi Derek and Nii Gyan Handry got the consolation for the third tier side.

Kotoko have now scored nine goals in their last FA Cup games, having beaten Paga Crocodile Stars 4-0 in the previous stage.

The Reds have now joined 15 other clubs, including arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak in the round of 16 stage of the competition.

Coach David Duncan will be desperate to win the title after the Caf Champions League group stage dream evaporated into thin air last Sunday, while the Ghana Premier League title also comes across as a daunting task.

The Kumasi-based club won a double last season- the MTN FA Cup and the First Capital Plus Premier League - under Mas-Ud Dramani, who parted ways with the outfit some weeks back after a slew of poor results in the league.