Kotoko Pip Okwawu

Nana Arhin Duah's 89th minute goal enabled Kumasi Asante Kotoko to beat Okwawu United 1-0 in their match played in Kumasi on Sunday. The goal came as Kotoko fans had started leaving the stadium, believing that the match would end goalless when Arhin Duah scored from a goal mouth melee.

Coach E.K. Afranie, who is holding the fort for coach recuperating Karim Zito, decided to overhaul the Kotoko team with some new faces and the he nearly paid for it when their attacking machinery failed to click.

It was Kotoko, who went into action early in the game, but Aziz Ansah, Nasiru Ghani, Imola Sanjie and Kenneth Asamoah could not find their rhythm and therefore missed the chances that came their way. Okwawu, determined to at least have a draw, tightened their defence and made occasional breakthroughs but found Kotoko's defence unyielding. Kotoko substituted George Yamoah for Asamoah in the 40th minute and a Nasiru Ghani header at goal was parried to corner in the 44th minute. Okwawu nearly found the net in the 47th minute but a strong header from Wisdom Abbey missed the post narrowly.

Elvis Opoku of Kotoko took over from Osei Akoto in the 49th minute and brought a lot of vim into the attack, changing the pattern of play as the homers piled pressure on Okwawu.

Kotoko exhausted their substitution opportunities when Nana Arhin Duah replaced Imbola in the 65th minute, but Okwawu turned the tide as they seized the midfield and attacked from all angles, looking for the leader.

When the game appeared heading to a barren draw, Arhin Duah scored the match winner for Kotoko in the 89th minute.