Kessben holds Kotoko in League match

Kumasi, May 10, GNA - Visiting Kessben F/C on Sunday forced Kumasi Asante Kotoko to a 1-1 drawn game in their 17th Week encounter played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. The visitors were dealt a big blow in the initial stages of the match as skipper Iddrisu Yahaya was red-carded in the 20th minute for rough play on Kotoko's Alex Asamoah but the home team failed to capitalize on their advantage.

It was, however, Kessben who reorganised well in the midfield and their attacking strategy and it came as no surprise when they succeeded to stun the home team by drawing first blood in the 31st minute. It was a beautiful goal by all standards with the opening goal coming from the foot of striker Anum Lanquaye who after intercepting a pass in the midfield raced the ball deep into the goal area of Kotoko in a solo effort before letting go a shot that beat Kotoko's goalkeeper Isaac Amoako.

In a desperate move to salvage their image, the 'Porcupine Warriors' brought on Kwadwo Poku for Alex Asamoah in the 40th minute but the changes did little to turn the course of the game as Kessben defended gallantly to end the first half in their favour. On resumption of the second half, Kotoko threw caution to the wind as they attacked in droves and succeeded in earning a penalty in the 50th minute when Louis Quainoo was whacked down in the goal area of the visitors but Dan Nii Adjei surprisingly missed the chance to bring the scores to parity. Kotoko however made amends in the 66th minute through substitute Poku who delivered a 35 yard shot that zoomed straight into the net to enable his team equalise and bring back the smiles to the teeming fans of the home team. The 'Porcupine Warriors after the goal made a series of threatening moves into the visitors' goal area but failed to get the match winner till the final whistle.