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Kotoko Win President’s Cup |
| Uncrowned league champions, Asante Kotoko, yesterday beat Heart of Lions for the third time in the season to grab the coveted President’s Cup and the GH¢5,000 prize after their 5-2 victory on penalties in the drama-filled thriller at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra. |
Lions twice fought from behind, and the second equaliser on the stroke of full time forced the game beyond the 90 minutes tied at 2-2, as officials initially called for extra time.
Lions suffered two red cards, one for defender Godfred Rockson and the second for Coach Paa Kwesi Fabian.
Most Valuable Player Dominic Adiyiah levelled for Lions within a minute after Kotoko’s lead and provided the inspiration that won them the penalty on the stroke of full time, which put them level for the second time in the match.
While Adiyiah savoured his personal success, the Premier League’s top scorer, Eric Bekoe, was the hero for Kotoko on the day, fetching his side’s second goal and converting the final penalty kick that earned them the trophy.
Substitute Daniel Acquah, Nii Adjei and Bekoe scored for Kotoko from the spot, while Stephen Owusu, Abraham Annan and Isaac Morgan, all substitutes, missed for Lions.
Officials yielded to Lions’ technical director Francis Oti Akenten’s protest against extra time play, but his side failed woefully, failing to convert even one of three kicks as Kotoko scored three times from four kicks.
In a tie that will give Dominic Adiyiah fond memories, Lions played 65 minutes with 10 men after Referee Alex Kotey showed Godfred Rockson the red card when the defender fouled a threatening Kwabena Yaro just outside the penalty area.
Despite the numerical advantage, Kotoko were woeful in attack and squandered the best of chances in the 35th, 44th and 45th minutes when skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Yaro took turns in wasteful exhibition.
But the Porcupine Warriors struck after 47 minutes through Jordan Opoku, but their celebration was shortlived when Adiyiah equalised in the 48th minute, immediately returning the game to its cagey nature.
Bekoe restored Kotoko’s lead in the 78th minute, two minutes after the fans’ favourite, Stephen Oduro, came on.
But Lions forced Kotoko into defensive play thereafter and opened chances for an imminent equaliser that came from substitute Stephen Owusu from the spot after Richard Manu whacked Adiyiah in the penalty area.
While Referee Kotey showed Manu the yellow card, Coach Fabian called for a red and his remonstrations towards fourth referee Joseph Lamptey earned him the referee’s red card.
In the midst of the controversies that followed, Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama presented the trophy to Osei Kuffour as Kotoko celebrated their third President’s Cup success and the trophy for keeps. |
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