Kotoko pip All Blacks
Agona Swedru, April 2, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko defied the
home invisibility to beat Swedru Gamba All Blacks one-nil in
their 27th Week Onetouch Premier League match at Swedru on
Sunday.
Kotoko who showed their determination to carry the day,
right from the blast of the referee’s whistle, started
dictating the pace of the game that the two teams resorting
to rough play with the All Blacks lads the worst offenders.
In the eighth minute of the first half, Ahmed Nyame, a
former player of All Blacks was shown the yellow card for
heckling Samuel Agyemang who was a tormentor in the Kotoko
defence.
Kotoko’s Emmanuel Osei Kufuor also received a yellow card
for elbowing Obed Owusu of All Blacks in the 15th minute.
Th visitors lifted up their game plan and went ahead to put
the ball in the net in the 25th minute through Douglas
Nkuramh but his effort was disallowed by referee Cecil
Fletcher from Takoradi for offside positioning.
All Blacks Bismark Idan in the 30th minute had an
opportunity to get the opener for his side but shot the ball
over the bar.
Nkrumah was however on target in the 34th minute to score
the only goal of the match after receiving a neat pass from
Kufuor.
Nana Arhin Duah should have made it two for Kotoko in the
38th minute when he had only keeper Isaac Akrong to beat but
wasted the chance.
Obed Owusu of All Blacks nearly found the equalizer for his
side but also missed narrowly in the 58th minute.
Some of the decisions of referee Fletcher did not go down
well with the fans especially Kotoko which nearly marred the
beauty of the match as the fans embarked on throwing of
missiles onto the playing field.
Nkrumah who was adjudged the best player of the match after
the game had an opportunity to increase Kotoko’s goal tally
in the 72nd minute but wasted it to the annoyance of their
numerous fans.
All Blacks Samuel Agyemang's header hit the side of Kotoko’s
goal posts in the 83rd minute to the relief of their fans.
A ‘Black Magicians’ striker, Bismark Idan was shown the red
card in the 88th minute for a second offence against Isaac
Vorsah, a former player of All Blacks who had thwarted the
home team’s effort at goal scoring.
GNA
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