Ghana Premier League: Kotoko records first win

Asante Kotoko on Sunday broke the jinx surrounding their inability to win matches with an emphatic 2-0 victory over visiting Berekum Arsenals in their Glo-Premier League day-five clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

Having drawn their first four games, the Porcupine Warriors with their pride at stake attacked like wounded lions in the first half and succeeded in pinning down their opponents to their own half.

Skipper Kofi Nti Boakye and dribbling magician, Michael Helegbe, tormented the Arsenal defence with their slippery runs and came close to breaking the deadlock but the glorious chances that came their way were wasted in the 33rd and 45th minutes, respectively.

Arsenal resumed the second half a transformed side and tried to catch their opponents on the break.

Enoch Asare, who led the Arsenal attack, nearly stunned the Porcupine Warriors when he rose above the defence to connect an Isaac Osei in-swinger but the ball missed the post by inches.

Having survived this early scare, Kotoko resorted to a compact game and concentrated most of their attacks in the midfield where Michael Anaba, Issah Yakubu and Nurudeen Ali operated effectively.

In a desperate move for a goal, Kotoko’s Ben Acheampong who received a pass on the left flanks ran deep into the opponents’ goal area and let go a carpet pass which was connected home by Helegbe in the 71st minute.

The deafening cheers that greeted the goal ostensibly motivated the Kotoko players to probe for more which did come six minutes on through Joseph Ochaya.

It was a beautiful goal by all standards, as the Ugandan import hit a volley with his favourite left-foot from a Helegbe’s corner-kick to give the home team all the much-needed three points.

Source: GNA