Kotoko beat King Faisal 2-1

Kumasi, June, 8, GNA - League Leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday beat city rivals King Faisal 2-1 in their Onetouch second round Premier League match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Kotoko who lost 0-1 to Real Tamale United at Tamale in an outstanding match on Wednesday needed the points at stake to stretch their lead on the League but victory did not come their way easily as they allowed King Faisal to dominate most part of the exchanges during the first half.

Faisal packed their defence as they played it hard and marching Kotoko from the on set of the game with the Kotoko attackers missing many chances upfront with Kwadwo Poku being the worst offender. Poku who led the attack wasted a chance when the match was four minutes old with a near miss with only goalkeeper Iddrisu Ibrahim to beat and threw away another opportunity in the 25th minute. King Faisal in a swift counter in the 26th minute nearly took the lead when Enoch Ebo Andoh skillfully beat two defenders and planted the ball for Abdul Oppong Samed but the striker shot wide. Both sides resorted to hard tackles but could not find the net during the first half.

Kotoko brought on Stephen Oduro for Jordan Opoku in the 46th minute just after the recess but it was Faisal who lifted their game to take the lead in the 50th minute through fast improving striker Abraham Basit with a right footer. Basit pounced on the loose ball, beat two defenders on the run and chipped the ball into the blind side of on-rushing Eric Nii Baah in goal for Kotoko.

With the heat on Kotoko, Kwabena Yaro came on for an ineffective Kwadwo Poku in the 56th minute with Faisal's Enoch Ando hitting the side net in the 65th minute.

With Kotoko's mid-field completely broken and finding things difficult Julius Agyabeng replaced injured Osei Kwame in the 68th minute to exhaust their substitution while skipper Osei Kuffour missed a chance to get the equalizer in the 69th minute.

Kuffour atoned for his earlier mistake to bring Kotoko on level terms in the 81st minute when he headed home a cross from substitute Yaro in a goal mouth melee.

Three minutes later Stephen Oduro hit the cross bar with an unfamiliar left footer which deflected over a defender into the net for Kotoko's winning goal. Faisal's Basit was adjudged the most valuable player of the match.