Kotoko beat Al-Ittihad 3-1 to qualify to the next stage of the Confederation Cup

Kumasi, July 27, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko played a determined game to beat Al-Ittihad of Libya 3-1 in their Confederation Cup second leg match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Sunday to qualify to the next stage of the competition. Kotoko who lost 1-2 to Al-Ittihad in the first leg scored their first goal in the 9th minute through their goal poacher, Eric Bekoe who pounced on a lose ball after beating an off-side trap to power home a low grounder to beat Samir Abbud in goal for Al-Ittihad.

Playing minus their skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffuour who was red carded in the first leg and lateral defenders, Samuel Inkoom and Harrison Afful both serving yellow card accumulation, the defence of Kotoko had to put in extra effort to contain slippery Muhamed Zubya and Riyad Allafi who spearhead Al-ittihad's attack in the early stages of the game. After scoring the opening goal, Kotoko who had thus cancelled the goal deficit piled pressure on their opponents in search for the leader but Al-Ittihad who entered the game with a mission stood gallantly and got a chance in the 11th minute to equalize but the chance was wasted by Mohamed Esuai when he missed the post narrowly with a calculated shot.

Al-Ittihad who were swift in their attacks, worked hard as hey bulldozed their way with their strength against the Kotoko lads and nearly equalized in the 22nd minute but a header from Riyad was beautifully parried to corner by Kotoko's goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye. Kotoko came into the picture in the 22nd minute and nearly scored after goalkeeper Abbud failed to make a first time save shot of Kwabena Yaro's effort which hit the post and back into the keepers' grips. Al-Ittihad brought on Panpierre Koulibaly for Youns Shibani in the 25th minute and this nearly paid off for them when the substitute player had an opportunity in the 37th minute to score but he shot wide.

In the 39th minute Kotoko's Kwabena Yaro wasted an opportunity to consolidate his side's lead but the striker in a solo effort fumbled with his feeble shot hitting the post. The visitors from then took control of the game with series of forays but could not find the net with referee Trabeis Aduaz of Tunisia whistling for the end of the first half.

On resumption, Al-Ittihad made another substitution with Ahmed Zuway taking over from Muhamed Zubya but were unfortunate to get the equalizer when Koulibally surged forward to head the ball into the net for what looked like a good goal but he was ruled off-side by the assistant referee in the 54th minute. The players and officials of Al-Ittihad protested vehemently for a period until tempers cooled down for the game to continue. Kotoko went ahead to increase the scores in the 61st minute when Jordan Opoku shot into the yawning net from a perfect cross from Kwabena Yaro in a goalmouth melee. Koulibaly who was a torn in the Kotoko defence nearly reduced the tally with a powerful header but the ball sailed over the bar in the 67th minute.

Al-Ittihad in the 70th minute brought in Yohan Lauglai for Mohamed Esuai while Kotoko also brought on Stephen Oduro for Francis Akwaffo in the 74th minute. Koulibally managed to reduce the goal tally for Al-Ittihad in the 81st minute with a powerful header that sent goalkeeper Soulama sprawling to set the partisan home fans wondering as what their fate would be. With the game on level terms, Kotoko were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute when Bekoe released the ball to hit the hand of a defender and which Bekoe ensured that converted from the spot kick to send the stadium into a wild jubilation to signify that progress to the next stage of the competition.