Kotoko hold Togo

KUMASI Asante Kotoko, parading a galaxy of new players, played a thrilling game and settled for a 1-1 draw in thier friendly match against The Hawks, the Togolese national team, honoured at the Kumasi Stadium yesterday.

At the end of the 90-minute action, the teaming supporters of Kotoko had their monies worth and gave a thunderous applause in admiration of the rare performance of thier idol club and the good account given by the Togolese.

This was one match which the Togolese needed to win at all cost to avenge their earlier 1-2 loss suffered at the hands of Kotoko in the first leg of their friendly enounter at the Accra Stadium late last year.

The Hawks quickly went into action and sustained the pressure until their efforts were rewarded in the 24th minute.

Togolese striker Yedibahoma Espoir after receiving a pass from his team-mate Mustapha Salifu, took on the Kotoko defence. Unyielding Kotoko defender, Frank Atsou, in his attempt to stop Espoir savagely brought his countryman down in the penalty box for a spot kick, which was converted by Espoir for the match opener.

Kotoko whose rebuilding programme appeared to be on course, quickly put the early goal behind them and nearly equalised seven minutes later but a shot delivered from the foot of Abedi Sarfo grazed the crossbar and the rebound was cleared by a Togolese defender.

Kotoko continued to search for a goal and on the stroke of half-time, striker Osei Kwame, whose formal disengagement from Bofoakwa Tano is at the final stages, connected Sarfo’s lob with a header but the Togolese goalkeeper Viguor Kossi managed to save the situation.

The return saw Kotoko playing more aggressively and the flash point of their good performance came in the 77th minute. The Hawks reeling under pressure, conceded a free-kick and Kotoko’s diminutive midfielder, Stephen Oduro, who took the kick, let go a powerful shot, which was beautifully connected by Nana Frimpong with a header beyond the reach of goalkeeper Kossi for the equaliser.