Sekondi, May 24 GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko defeated Sekondi Hasaacas 3-1 on penalties in the semi-final of the Professional League Board (PLB) Special Knockout match played at the Sekondi Gyandu Park on Wednesday.
By this victory, Kotoko has set the stage for a titanic encounter in the finals against their archrivals, Accra Hearts of Oak who had earlier accounted for Kumasi King Faisal 3-2 in the other semi-final match played at Suyani Coronation Park.
Hasaacas, determined to carry the day to put the smiles on the faces of their vociferous supporters carried the game to their opponents when Referee Atikese signalled hostilities to begin.
However, this early pressure was short-lived as Kotoko soon took over to dictate the pace of the game, making several incursions into the area of Hasaacas.
Hasaacas also had their moments but both teams could not find the opener as Joseph Addo in goal for Hasaacas and Eric Nii Baah for Kotoko stood firm to save all the dangerous shots.
On resumption, a more determined Hasaacas earned a spot kick, which was expertly converted by John Ainoo in the 58th minute.
Kwabena Dodzie, a torn in the flesh of Hasaacas defense all day found the equalizer for Kotoko after firing through a host of legs to beat Joeseph Addo in post in the 78th minute.
From then on Kotoko never looked back as their attackers consisting of Adu Amofa, Emmanuel Owusu Ansah and Nashiru Gani kept probing for the leader, which never came, pushing the game into penalty kicks. During the penalty shoot-out, Paul Addo and Isaac Donkor's kicks were saved by Eric Nii Baa of Kotoko, while that of Eric Owusu hit the cross-bar.
Edmond Owusu Ansah and Nashiru Gani scored for Kotoko, while Mutala Mohammed's shot also hit the post.
