Kotoko lose to Heart of Lions at their 'waterloo'

Konongo (Ash), Oct 16, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko failed to glitter as they lost 0-1 to Kpando Heart of Lions in their GT Onetouch Premier league match played at their Konongo 93Waterloo=94 park on Sunday. Eric Agyei scored the only goal of the match in the second minute which incidentally turned out to be the match winner to send the crest-fallen teeming supporters of the Porcupine Warriors into a mournful mood.

The result of the match is the first time Kotoko has lost a match at the Konongo venue since the Club decided to use the pitch as their base for the League this season.

Lions kicked off after referee Cecil Fletcher signaled the two sides into action and gave indications of creating havoc as they mounted an early pressure on Kotoko and it came as no surprise when they took the leader as Agyei shot at the blind side of Kotoko's goalkeeper Isaac Amoako through a defensive blunder.

The visitors continued to pile pressure and nearly increased their goal tally two minutes later but the hero of the day, Agyei was brought down whilst attempting to score by a defender but the resultant kick was wasted.

Kotoko accepted the challenge but failed to contain the prolific players of Lions who multiplied in their attacks, making things difficult for Kotoko.

A good opportunity however fell the way of Kotoko in the 11th minute but Nana Arhin Dua wasted it.

With their pride at stake, Kotoko mounted series of attacks on Lions but the defence of the visitors stood gallantly to thwart all the dangerous moves.

Sensing danger, coach Afranie brought on Douglas Nkrumah for Aziz Ansah in the 39th minute but this could not bring the expected change as the visitors matched them squarely to end the first half. On resumption of the second half, Kotoko came back strongly and nearly equalised in the 52nd minute but Arhin Duah failed to put the ball into an empty net after goalkeeper Mozart Adjetey was completely beaten in a goalmouth melee.

With the heat on Lions, Murtala Mohammed also wasted another chance in the 64th minute when his header missed the post narrowly. Heart of Lions came into the picture in the 72nd minute but Jackson Joseph's effort was saved by goalkeeper.

Kotoko made a last minute onslaught to find the equaliser but all their efforts were thwarted by the defensive network of Lions to give them a deserving victory.