Kotoko beat African Sports

Kumasi, Aug 30, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat African Sports of Cote d'Ivoire 1-0 to lift the giant trophy at stake in a friendly international match played at the Kumasi Sports stadium on Monday. The match was organized by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) in connection with the weeklong Ghana-Ivorian Week celebration which was scheduled for Sunday but it was rained off.

Kotoko featuring mostly their Under-20 players went straight into attack after the kick off and nearly took the lead in the fifth minute but Kwame Adzagba's free kick went off target.

Before African Sports could organize themselves into the game, Kwame Attrams out-jumped the defense to head home a beautiful corner kick taken by Adzagba in the ninth minute.

The Ivorians counter attacked, playing it hard and nearly fetched the equaliser in the 17th minute but Grah Congo fumbled just in front of goalkeeper Louis Quainoo of Kotoko.

They continued to pile on the pressure and had another chance in the 22nd minute but lanky Toure Aboubacar headed off target. Let off the hook, Kotoko mounted an attack and earned a corner in the 30th minute but it was wasted.

Kotoko brought in Razak Alhassan to replace injured Imbola Sanjie on resumption and had a glorious chance in the 46th minute to increase their tally but with only keeper Karamoko Outtara to beat, Kwame Attrams shot off target.

They continued with the pressure on the visitors but Alhassan hit the side post with a powerful shot after racing with the ball to beat two defenders on the run in the 65th minute.

The Ivorians, who seemed not deterred by the series of attacks also came into the picture in the dying minutes but all their efforts to get the equalizer failed as the Kotoko defense gallantly stood firm to repulse their attempts at goal.