By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 25-04-11

With five matches to draw the curtains down on the 2010/2011 Glo Premier League, Coach Bogdan Korak and his charges are in no mood to loosen their grip of the second position on the league table.

The Porcupine Warriors chalked another important 2-1 win over stubborn side, Berekum Arsenal on Sunday afternoon at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

For a team that lost as many as 5 matches on the trot in the first half of the season, recording 7 consecutive wins in the second round of the competition is in no way a fluke.

There has been momentous transformation of the team. And without a doubt, a bit of that transformation was once again witnessed on Sunday.

Ivorian striker, Ahmed Toure, opened scoring for Kotoko 14 minutes into the game as he benefited from a very good pass from Nathaniel Asamoah to shoot perfectly on target.

The strong striker had an Arsenal defender on him yet he made every move to get control of the ball.

He maintained firm control and successfully delivered a mighty shot that sent the disappointingly small crowd into celebration mood.

Indeed the best the Arsenal defender could do in that anxious moment was really to push Ahmed Toure’s strike further into the net.

The goal for Kotoko was not surprising because they had threatened to score in the early minutes of the match but Nathaniel Asamoah and Ahmed Toure agonisingly blew the glorious chances.

The pressure by Kotoko to get more goals continued with Fatawu Mohammed and Daniel Nii Adjei coming in very well with sharp crosses none of which the attackers could convert.

Toure in one instance headed the ball too wide while in front of the goalkeeper. Nathaniel Asamoah could as well have easily doubled Kotoko’s lead after 30 minutes of play when Nii Adjei located him with a sweet long pass in the middle of Arsenal’s territory.

With only the goalkeeper to beat, Nathaniel Asamoah chose the rather difficult option of sending a shot over the goalkeeper, instead of cleverly lifting the ball over him before shooting home.

Nat’s attempt at goal did not materialize as to the chagrin of all Kotoko followers, the goalie blocked the ball with his body.

Berekum Arsenal never looked like a side that could grab a goal, but Kotoko’s momentary relapse in defence however offered them hopes of doing that when Awal Mohammed was overpowered in the 56th minute by substitute striker Nana Poku whose low drive went straight into the net.

The response from the Porcupines to score another goal was expected to be swift and it did not take too long for that to happen.

Fatawu Mohammed with lightening speed cut in deep into the visitors’ goal area. He beautifully dummied his marker in the box. Left with absolutely no choice, the Arsenal defender who could not bear the pain of having lost the ball struck Fatawu Mohammed down.

Referee Charles Dawuona was spot on with his decision to award a penalty kick, which Nathaniel Asamoah neatly converted to give his, side a relieving 2-1 lead.

His goal increased his total number of goals this season to 10.

Arsenals’ coach, Johnson Smith, made his final substitutions by on more attackers.

Coach Bogdan Korak countered Arsenal’s attacking plan successfully by pulling out Nathaniel Asamoah for Afranie Yeboah to fortify the middle.

Earlier, Stephen Oduro and Samed Oppong had also come on for Frank Boateng and Fatawu Mohammed.  

Kotoko’s substitutions curtailed Arsenal’s aggression quite well. What however killed the visitors’ dream of securing a draw was the 84th minute red carding of Akwasi Acheampong who senselessly head-butted Ahmed Toure after losing possession of the ball.

The red card served Akwasi Acheampong well because he was the same player who thoughtlessly head butted Kwame Boateng in the first round match between the two sides.

In that game played on December 26, 2010 at the Berekum Golden City Park, Akwasi Acheampong went unpunished but this time the long arm of the law caught him.

Now on 41 points – 12 short of leaders Berekum Chelsea’s 53, the Porcupine Warriors travel next Sunday to Kpando to face Heart of Lions in what would be an explosive encounter.

It is worthy of note that this will be second of the three battles between the two teams since they are billed to meet again in Kumasi on May 25 in the MTN FA Cup competition.

Kotoko line-up: Isaac Amoako, Yaw Frimpong, Louis Quainoo, John Kuffour, Awal Mohammed, Michael Akuffu, Daniel Nii Adjei, Frank Boateng/Stephen Oduro, Ahmed Toure, Nathaniel Asamoah/Afranie Yeboah, Fatawu Mohammed/Samed Oppong.

Berekum Arsenal: Thomas Tuah Asare, Prince Gyamfi/Sani Wahab, Bashir Mohammed, Akwasi Acheampong, Kofi Agyare, Osei Berko, Collins Agyei, Osei Bonsu, Ernest Obeng/Nana Opoku, Eric Aseidu, Shaidbu Adams.