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.