GPL Match Report: Inter Allies 1-1 Asante Kotoko

Inter Allies shared the spoils with Asante Kotoko in a pulsating 1-1 stalemate at the Tema Park in the Ghana Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Bennett Ofori raced Kotoko into the lead with a 10th minute finish after punishing Allies goalkeeper Osei Kwame following an unbelievable howler.

The custodian failed to handle Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi's shot as he pilled the ball and Ofori arrived in time to stab the ball home.

But Frederick Opoku Yamoah responded for Allies just moments into the second-half with an eye-catching 30 yarder. He hammered home a drive which sailed unstoppably into the Kotoko net with Ernest Sowah having no chance.

The Porcupine Warriors trekked the Tema Park without the lethal Dauda Mohammed who has travelled with the Ghana U20 side.

Allies's counted their loss in winger Evans Mensah who has also joined the Black Satellites for the 2017 African Youth Championship qualifier against Senegal in Dakar.

Kotoko coach Michael Osei named the misfiring Obed Owusu in his frontline and was joined by Bennett Ofori who scored the opener.

Prince Baffoe had vowed to punish Kotoko - his former club, but he was pedestrian in the opening halve of the game.

Isaac Twum and Ropapa Mensah were both benched by Allies coach Jimmy Cobblah.

Kotoko came close to increasing the tally on the half-hour mark but Owusu watched his effort go against the crossbar.

Kotoko needed goalkeeper Ernest Sowah to rise to the occasion and deny Sheriff Deo Mohammed the equaliser. The gangling striker forced his way through the back and produced a poisonous drive but the former Berekum Chelsea glovesman reacted with a great save.

Allies were not done before the end of the opening half as he agonisingly watched his effort crash into the far-post.

They carried on immediately after the recess and deservedly grabbed the equaliser. Frederick opoku found a perfect pass before he kicked an inch-perfect long powerful drive into Kotoko's net with Sowah already beat.

Ropapa Mensah was introduced as early second-half replacement for Sheriff Deo Mohammed whose energy looked flagged.