By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 31-10-11

Kotoko coach Maxwell Konadu is deeply satisfied with the winning mentality being developed by his team in the 2011/2012 Glo Premier League.

He says he will count on that positive situation to chalk more good result.

Konadu told Kotoko Express this in an interview after two first half goals scored by Ahmed Toure and Nathaniel Asamoah in the 8th and 26th minutes respectively gave Kotoko an emphatic 2-0 win over Heart of Lions at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium..

“My team is recording fine results because the playing body is working hard .The input of the technical team cannot also be disregarded. I have been saying that it is hard work. The playing body and the technical team; everybody is doing his best .The players are performing so well and that is having a huge impact on the team” said the coach.

Sunday’s game saw Kotoko playing well throughout thereby giving the visiting team little room to operate. The Lions’ bulky striker, Gilbert Fiamenyo found it difficult to overpower the resolute Kotoko defence. The power and creativity of Kotoko’s midfielders coupled with peerless strength and sharpness of attackers – Ahmed Toure and Nathaniel Asamoah left the Lions frustrated. Them Kpando boys struggled to keep up with the stamina of Kotoko who could have recorded a bigger score line but for Ahmed Toure’s unusual wastefulness upfront.

 Below is a minute-by-minute account of the beautiful encounter.

1st minute: Referee Joseph Lamptey whistles for proceedings to start. Kotoko kick off and launch an attack which is thwarted by the visiting team.

3rd minute: Lions do their best to contain Kotoko’s pressure for the opener as Michael Anaba attempts to put Nathaniel Asamoah through with Ahmed Toure moving dangerously into good position.

5th minute: The impressive and enthusiastic home fans boo Referee Joseph Lamptey as he awards an infringement in Kotoko’s favour as midfielder Michael Anaba takes off beautifully but he is fouled by Godfred Asante who is given a verbal caution by the referee.

8th minute: Yaw Frimpong with lightening speed initiates an attack on the right. He outwits his markers to send a long, perfect cross into the goal area for on rushing striker, Ahmed Toure to head home to register the first goal.

9th minute: Lions restart the game with Godfred Asante and Daniel Bonsu combining well to locate Gilbert Fiamenyo upfront. Fiamenyo overpowers Kotoko defender and captain, Ohene Brenya. With great speed and effort, the bulky Fiamenyo enters the goal area from the left and fires a mighty shot which hits the side net.

11th minute: With great pace and perfect ball control, Abdul Baba Rahman surges forward on the left. Nathaniel Asamoah positions himself well to receive Rahman’s pass. However, the left back loses possession. Nathaniel Asamoah goes in with a good tackle to win the ball. He locates Ahmed Toure close to the box but Toure’s salvo is too feeble to beat goalkeeper Nana Bonsu.

12th minute: Michael Anaba initiates a sweet attack from the middle but he is fouled again by an opponent. He goes on the stretcher but returns moments later while limping painfully. David Ofei comes on two minutes on to take his place.

16th minute: Lion gains possession close to Kotoko goal area. Daniel Bonsu put Badu Asiamah through excellently but the latter is agonisingly denied by the crossbar much to the chagrin of his coach Paa Kwesi Fabin.

20th minute: Lions grow in confidence as Daniel Bonsu outruns Nii Adjei to a loose ball. Fatawu Mohammed comes in well to dispossess Daniel Bonsu but he wrongly and surprisingly too loses the ball to Lions’ Daniel Bonsu who finds Gilbert Fiamenyo near Kotoko’s goal area. Awal Mohammed comes in strongly to dispossess Fiamenyo before he thinks of wrecking havoc.

23rd minute: Delightful midfield exchanges between Nii Adjei and Yaw Frimpong send the fans applauding the Porcupines. Yaw Frimpong runs well on the right to send a good pass to Nathaniel Asamoah whose tenacious goal-bound shot is stopped by goalkeeper Nana Bonsu.

26th minute: Kotoko sustain pressure on Lions. Substitute player, David Ofei runs with ball aiming towards the goal area. He beautifully changes direction and sends a long, decent pass to Nathaniel Asamoah on the right. The striker outruns his markers to the admiration of the spectators and cuts into the goal area to deliver a perfect strike on target to make it 2:0.

28th minute: Gilbert Fiamenyo runs well to locate winger, Ofosu Amoah on the right. Ofosu Amoah Tico” attempts to dribble Awal Mohammed but with that towering figure to deal with, the diminutive Ofosu Amoah runs out of ideas and easily loses possession to Awal Mohammed.

30th minute: Lions still struggling to contain Kotoko’s pressure. David Ofei shows superb skill to outwit his marker to give a clever pass to Nathaniel Asamoah but the striker is hacked by Emmanuel Anaafi who receives the first yellow card of the match.

35th minute: Kotoko in control of the game, David Ofei makes a dangerous incursion. He finds Nathaniel Asamoah who nicely outruns his marker, cuts into the box deeply to deliver a piercing pass to Ahmed Toure but so uncharacteristic of him, Toure with only the goalkeeper to beat, blasts way off target.

38th minute: Lions reel under intense pressure. Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin conducts his first substitution. He pulls out Isaac Donkor for Maestro Mensah. Two minutes on, Ofosu Amoah combines well with Prosper Avor to make an incursion but Kotoko defender Baba Abdul Rahman in a timely move, intercepts the ball and sends it out of danger.

42nd minute: Emmanuel Anaafi and Daniel Bonsu initiate a brilliant move upfront. Bonsu attempts to beat on Baba Abdul Rahman with a long ball but the Kotoko defender traps the ball in mid-air to foil the Lions’ onslaught.

47th minute: Referee Joseph Lamptey ends the first half after the two minute time added on displayed by fourth Referee Samuel Suker elapses. Kotoko fans cheerfully applaud the team’s first half performance.

Second half: Lions resume play. Series of well-strung passes between Emmanuel Anaafi and Solomon Addy sees them in attack but Ohene Brenya comes in well to apply the brakes on Addy.

50th minute: Coach Paa Kwesi introduces a fresh limp. Benjamin Fadi is on for Prince Opoku. Kotoko’s Akuffu has possession of the ball. He completely beats Godfred Asante but Lions player hacks him. Referee Joseph Lamptey rushes into flash his yellow card at Godfred.

52nd minute: Gilbert Fiamenyo benefits from Daniel Bonsu’s lovely pass. He runs close to the goal area but Awal Mohammed smartly stretches to send the ball out of danger. The tempo of the game declines somewhat but with Kotoko still dominating.

57th minute: Soulama Abdoulaye receives a verbal caution from Referee Joseph Lamptey for time wasting. Interestingly, the home fans boo the referee for running to Soulama to warn him. Soulama finally kicks the ball inside. Nathaniel Asamoah picks the ball and finds Toure close to the box. Toure fires well but again misses the target.

65th minute: Near calamity befalls Kotoko. Nathaniel Asamoah receives a blow on the back of his head in an attempt to head home a Nii Adjei cross. The striker tumbles heavily. He lies on the pitch motionless. The medical team rushes to the midfield. He is stretched off and put in an ambulance which leaves the stadium immediately. Nathaniel is replaced by Michael Mensah.

77th minute: Action in the game drops significantly. However, substitute players Mohammed Anaba and Benjamin Fadi invade Kotoko goalmouth but even with the ball they are clueless as to what to. Yaw Frimpong comes in to clear the danger but he fouls an opponent. He is booked for rough tackle.

81st minute: Excitement is restored at the stadium as Stephen Oduro receives a massive standing ovation after replacing Fatawu Mohammed. Six minutes on, Stephen Oduro skillfully outwits an opponent. He gives a perfect pass to Michael Mensah. That again sends stadium into a thrilling mood as the fans cheer the evergreen midfielder for his brilliance.

90th minute: Three minutes added on but Kotoko finish hard as they defend well to protect their comfortable lead. The spectators, once again rise with applause as the referee brings proceedings to an end in the 93rd minute.

Kotoko: Soulama Abdoulaye, Yaw Frimpong, Baba Abdul Rahman, Ohene Brenya, Awal Mohammed, Nii Adjei Daniel, Michael Akuffu, Nathaniel Asamoah/Michael Mensah, Michael Anaba/David Ofei, Ahmed Toure, Mohammed Fatawu/Stephen Oduro.

Lions: Nana Bonsu, Ofosu Amoah, Prosper Avor, Addy Solomon, Asiamah Badu, Godfred Asante, Anaafi Emmanuel, Isaac Donkor, Gilbert Fiamenyo, Danielsssssss Prince Opoku.