Kotoko opens Top Four with 3-0 win over Arsenals

Kumasi, Aug. 24, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko opened this year's Top Four tournament with a 3-0 spanking of Berekum Arsenals in an impressive classic outing at the Baba Yara sports stadium on Sunday. The tournament christened Glo' GHALCA Top Four competition saw Kotoko wasting a lot of scoring chances with Kojo Poku being the worst offender.

The 'Porcupine Warriors' however got their first goal in the 43rd minute through Ofosu Amoah in an aerial tussel in front of the Arsenal gaol area between him, a defender and goalkeeper Ishaku Shaibu.

The 'controversial' goal was claimed to have been scored with the hand of Amoah and this led to a protest by the players and officials of Arsenals with the match officials which nearly resulted in a fight on the touch line but the security personnel and other club officials were on hand to cool down tempers to end the first half.

Poku however made amends when he scored the second goal for Kotoko in the 48th minute just after the recess. The striker pounced on a loose ball from the centre circle and raced with it towards goal with the defenders on his heels but he cheekily planted the ball on the blind side of keeper Shaibu.

Arsenals from then put their acts together and made series of incursions to reduce the goal tally but the iron-clad defenders made up of newly recruited Ofosu Appiah from Heart of Lions, Stephen Oduro, Prince Anokye, Mark Sekyere and Godfred Yeboah made things difficult for the Berekum lads.

Just as the game was coasting to an end, Kotoko put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute when substitute Eric Bekoe scored from a 30 metre free-kick after Samuel Inkoom who was attempting to score was brought down in the box by a defender of Arsenals.

The other teams in the tournament are Kpando Heart of Lions and Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals. Liberty pipped Lions 1-0 in their clash at the Ohene Djan sports stadium, Accra on Sunday.