Real Sportive Shock Kotoko

Kumasi Asante Kotoko suffered their first home defeat when they lost 1-2 to visiting Tema Real Sportive in the GT Premier League match at the Baba Yara Sports stadium in Kumasi on Sunday.

Sportive determined to carry the day, went into attack right from the blast of the referees whistle and nearly took the lead in the first minute but a header from Isaac Boakye went off target.

The visitors continued to pile pressure on the current league leaders with Esme Mends, Mark Amofa and skipper Samuel Ocran combining beautifully upfront and no wonder they succeeded in scoring the first goal in the fourth minute through Ocran but the referee ruled it offside.

Sportive continued on their onslaught and scored the opener three minutes later through Amofa in a goalmouth melee. Kotoko cheered on their teeming supporters, accepted the challenge and attacked from all angles in search of the equaliser but the shots towards goal were either saved by keeper Laud Quartey or the forwards on most occasions fumbled in front of goal.

The Kotoko forwards continued to waste almost all the chances that came their way until when during the added on time in the first half that they earned a penalty and Aziz Ansah converted for the equaliser. On resumption of the second half, Kotoko brought on Daniel Bonfah for Nasiru Ghani in the 53rd minute and attacked incessantly for the leader but the determined visitors capitalised on loose marking for Mends to pounce on a loose ball to shoot past onrushing Kotoko's keeper Habib Mohammed to score the second goal in the 58th minute. Kotoko with their pride at stake substituted John Cudjoe for Nii Odartey Lamptey in the 64th minute while Sportive also replaced Evans Aidoo with Nuhu Fuseini in the 66th minute and went all out to find the equaliser but goalkeeper Laud Quartey in posts for Sportive stood tall to prevent Kotoko from finding the net.

The "Porcupine Warriors" exhausted their substitution when Nana Arhin Duah gave way to Francis Akwafo in the 76th minute but all their attempts at goal were thwarted with John Cudjoe's shot hitting the cross bar in the 78th minute.

Sportive parked their defence and made things difficult for Kotoko to penetrate their back side while George Yamoah wasted a chance to get the equaliser in the 90th minute to bring the final scores 1-2 against Kotoko to bring the curtain down on the leg of the League.