Kotoko maintain lead

League leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko maintained their grip on the leadership of the Onetouch Premier League when they silenced Liberty Professionals with a 2-1 victory at their own back yard, - the Dansoman Carl Reindorf Park on Sunday.

Kotoko have thus increased their total point build up to 27, two clear points ahead of arch-rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak.

Liberty, ahead of the game had promised a victory, reminiscent of the 3-0 thrashing of Kotoko last year at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium but did little to make their dreams become a reality in the early stages of the game as they allowed the 'Porcupine Warriors' to dominate proceedings for the first quarter and early parts of the second half of the game.

With the aggression and sense of urgency upfront of Kotoko it was obvious that the possibility of an opener would come their as it was clearly on the walls.

Through the combined efforts of Nana Arhin Duah and overlapping defender Osei Kwame Jnr, the 'Fabulous' lads shot ahead in the 21st minute through the effort of Kwame Jnr who headed home a cross from the right flank after he had outwitted young and inexperienced defender Richard Kissi Boateng of Liberty.

Liberty responded quickly and reorganized themselves in search of the equalizer.

After 18 minutes of search, the home team managed to level up in the 39th minute through a grounder from the edge of the box from Owusu Addae, after Kofi Nti Boakye had struggled to place the ball on his path.

The shot took Kotoko's keeper Mohammed Alhassan by surprise as the ball penetrated smoothly through a cluster of legs into the corner of the goal post for the need equaliser.

The two sides struggled for the leader before the close of the first half but it never materialised.

It became a battle of equal strengths in the second half as the two sides unsuccessfully tried to outdo each other.

Kotoko's Kwame Obeng Darko had the best opportunity in the 54th minute put his side but with only keeper Nana Bonsu to beat, he surprisingly shot straight into the keeper's waiting hands.

The ball from then swung from one end of the field to the other till substitute John Kudjoe, in a similar fashion to that of Addai as fired a long range non-stop shot from the edge of the box for the second goal and the eventual winning goal for the 'Porcupine Warriors'.

The goal which brought a great breather to Kotoko, attracted spontaneous jubilation from the hundreds of Kotoko fans at the venue leading to the collapse of parts of the inner perimeter.

Liberty struggled to return into the game in search of the equalizer by introducing Tua Khamix for Micheal Osei, who before his substitution was a constant threat to his former team and Yaw Antwi for Rabiu Mohamed who had failed to click.

Both sides missed the services of some of their key players who are on national service with the national Under-23 team, the Black Meteors. Kotoko were without George Yamoah and Douglas Nkrumah whilst Liberty missed the services of their talismatic Michel Helegbe, Kotei Blankson, Eric Bekoe and Bawa Mohamed.

Their absence were however hardly felt as the two teams played an uncompromising game to the admiration of the packed Park. Kotoko's defender Murtala Mohammed was voted the best player of the match.