Kotoko scale over Lions in outstanding match

Accra, May 14, GNA - League leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko brushed off stiff opposition from Kpando Heart of Lions to secure a 2-1 victory in an outstanding Onetouch Premier League game played at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, on Wednesday.

Kotoko's victory was made possible by a last gasp effort by diminutive midfielder Stephen Oduro, after they had laboured for the first half with a goal to their disadvantage.

Lions, who adopted the Ohene Djan Stadium as their home base for the game, started on a bright note and signalled their intention to carry the day with series of near misses with Dominic Adiyah coming close to scoring eight minutes after the kick off.

Four minutes later, Lions head striker, Emmanuel Banahene stunned the vociferous Kotoko fans when he soared above his markers to put his side into the lead from Adiyah's perfect cross. Banahene, who was unmarked, soared beautifully to head into the roof of the net as the Kotoko goalie, Abdoulaye Soulama stretched to his elastic limit but to no avail.

Lions, were on hand to increased the tally in the 25th minute, but Adiyah again missed a perfect opportunity as his header went straight into the hands of Soulama after Kotoko's burly defender Richard Manu had failed to clear his lines.

Despite the near misses, Lions managed to hold on to the lead throughout the first half, but let it off three minute in the second half.

The Premiership top scorer, Eric Bekoe showed his class when he swept a cross into the net for the much need equaliser for the Porcupine Warriors after receiving a neat pass from Francis Akwafo. The equaliser paved the way for an intensed struggle between the two sides as they battled to take lead.

Lions stuck to their possessive football and swung accurate passes but the striking partnership of Banahene and Adiyah failed to make the needed penetration into the vital area of Kotoko. Kotoko on the other hand relied more on swift attacking game in their search for the lead.

The trend of the game however gave an indication that any of the sides was capable of picking up the three maximum points but it was just a matter of time.

The task was however made easier for Kotoko, when Lions Joseph Jackson was sent off for a second bookable offence six minutes before regulation time.

Kotoko capitalised on their advantage and launched a rapid attack into the vital area of Lions rightly found the back of the net in the 89th minute through good old Stephen Oduro who wasted no time in placing the ball behind the Lions goalkeeper after picking up a perfect pass from substitute midfield-dynamo Jordan Opoku to send the entire stadium into a thunderous jubilation. The Porcupine Warriors fresh from their miraculous victory over the Dolphins of Nigeria, in the preliminaries of the Confederation Cup competition, ensured they survived the scare from 'Lions' as well as maintaining their comfortable lead on the league table. 14 May 08