Tuesday, July 14, 2009

KOTOKO MOVE TO THE TOP (PAGE 46, JULY 10)

THE home fans had long christened yesterday an “Ascension Day”, and true to their prediction Asante Kotoko leapt ahead of rivals, Hearts of Oak, to the top of the Glo Premier League on superior goal difference following a hard-won 1-0 victory over Sekondi Hasaacas at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
A Jordan Opoku speculative drive from 35 yards won the day for the Porcupine Warriors, and thousands of their supporters had every right to celebrate the rise to the top after a murky run in the first round.
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the match was rescheduled for yesterday following a downpour, but it was heavily patronised.
After Hasaacas’ Joseph Mensah had narrowly missed with a header on the sixth minute, Kotoko sensed danger and put their machinery into motion, winning three corner kicks by the eighth minute.
However, the attacking pair of Kwadwo Poku and Stephen Manu could hardly penetrate the Hasaacas rear where former Hearts of Oak defender, Nana Kofi Egyir, was in great shape.
It took the ingenuity of Jordan Opoku to break the deadlock on the 23rd minute, firing from afar to beat keeper Michael Addo.
Twice on the 54th and 57th minutes, keeper Isaac Amoako pulled dramatic saves to deny the visiting side the equaliser.

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