Kumasi Asante Kotoko and the Reggae Boyz, Jamaica?s national team, settled for a 1-1 draw in the PANAFEST football match played at the Kumasi sports stadium.
The Jamaicans last Saturday lost 1-2 to the Black Stars at the Accra sports stadium. The Jamaican whipping boyz delighted the large crowd with their brand of school as they split open the Kotoko defence with the fast moves and daring raids. Speedster Richardo Fuller as slippery as the eel, proved too strong for the Kotoko defence, but which Kalilu Dramani at his best.
The Jamaicans kicked-off brilliantly but conceded a goal as early as the second minute when Kotoko's play-maker and inspirer Baba Armando Adams was felled outside the penalty box. The intelligent Kotoko player elected to take the kick and his curling shot veered off the Jamaican goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence. The Jamaicans as if possessed attacked in bursts repeatedly confusing their opponents with crisp, short and accurate passes as the Kotoko players struggled to keep pace with the game.
The visitors deservedly got the equalizer in the 20th minute when a free-kick by right full back Davies Fabiah went wide off goalkeeper Micheal Abu. Kotoko went into the offensive forcing three corner-kicks in a three-minute spell but the Jamaicans never gave up as they defended stoutly and warded off the menacing moves of the homesters.
Kotoko were denied a goal in the 34th minute when the Jamaican defence wilted under intense pressure but Burkinabe import Kambou Clovis' header to a cross from Prince Adu Poku was saved by the goalkeeper. Kotoko made two changes when Isaac Asare and Gordon Ablordey took over from Kambou Clovis and George Siaw. The substitutions changed the pattern of Kotoko who put their opponents under pressure. Rampaging Kotoko wasted a corner-kick in the 46th minute and four minutes later, Armando Adams dummied the defence after he latched onto a pass from speedster Robert Boateng but his shot missed the side post.
The Jamaicans also made two substitutions when Linvad Doxon and Richardo Fuller were replaced by Donald Steward and Jeffar Cumminghan in the 59th and 68th minutes respectively.