Kotoko overcome resilient Chelsea in Normalization Cup competition

Asante Kotoko S/C registered two goals in the second half to overcome a relatively young visiting Berekum Chelsea side, in their Ghana Football Association (GFA) Normalization Cup competition fixture, at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, on Wednesday.

The visitors looked tactically good in the first half, closing in on the Porcupine Warriors, especially in midfield, to prevent supplies to the deadly attacking duo of Emmanuel Gyamfi and Abdul Fatawu.

Chelsea's strategy worked to perfection, as they held their own against the homers to end the first half goalless.

Gyamfi put Kotoko in the lead on 49 minutes, when the diminutive striker had to soar above the visitors' defencemen to head home a corner kick.

The speedster should have increased the tally three minutes later, but very uncharacteristic of him, he shot wide with only the Chelsea goalie, Gideon Ahenkorah, to beat, after a swift counter-attack.

Kotoko's in-form Abdul Fatawu made victory certain by securing the second goal for the homers, as he converted a spot-kick in the 69th minute, after Obed Owusu was brought down in the penalty box.

Chelsea was awarded a corner kick on the stroke of full time, but Jones Attuquaye's kick would go waste.