Kotoko fails to glitter as Lions snatches a point

Defending Champions, Asante Kotoko failed to grab all three points at stake after they were held 1-1 by visiting Heart of Lions in their Glo-Premier League duel at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi,  on Sunday.

A resilient midfield action ensured only a few scoring opportunities were created by both sides.

Kotoko, being coached for the first time by Mas-Ud Dramani, hoped to turn things around and record a possible first victory in three outings but Lions stood still and curtailed every move initiated by the homers.

Skipper Kofi Nti Boakye twice came close to giving the Porcupine Warriors the lead but lack of precision upfront saw him miss two glorious opportunities in the 13th and 43rd minutes.

From recess, Lions initiated most of the attacks especially from the flanks and nearly broke the deadlock in the 51st minute but Prince Acquah’s delivery from a counter-attack missed narrowly.

Kotoko took the game to their opponents after this early scare with series of defense-splitting moves and in one of their surging runs, striker Nafiu Iddrisu was brought down in the vital area by Lions’ Nana Egyir in the 82nd minute.

Boakye stepped forward to convert from the spot to give Kotoko the lead.

With everything pointed to a win for the Porcupine Warriors, Lions fought back for a point. Nana Egyir earned that point for the visitors when he also converted from the spot on the stroke of time after Kotoko’s Ransford Osei brought down Moro Ibrahim.

Source: GNA