Accra, June 15, GNA - Asante Kotoko progressed to the finals of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Normalisation Cup Competition with a 5-4 victory over arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
It was a penalty shootout after match ended one all in regulation time.
Kotoko converted all five penalties with top defender Mohamed Alhassan missing his penalty for Hearts to grant Kotoko progress into the finals of the competition.
Both sides started cautiously knowing the bragging rights at stake, but with few exchanges in the first two minutes, Kotoko showed signs of scoring.
Kwame Boahen and Naby Keita moving to the right wing of Hearts of Oak, putting pressure on William Dankyi.
The defence of Hearts failed to notice the threat possed by the the duo, and failed to clear their lines quickly.
In the fifth minute, Kwame Boahen dispossessed his marker, and sent a short pass to Keita, who back heeled to Fatawu Shafiu to shoot straight into the lower left corner of the Hearts post, beating Ben Mensah in post for Hearts.
Hearts reorganized and mounted pressure on Kotoko in search of equalizer but it did materialize as Kotoko maintained the lead till close of the first half.
Hearts of Oak came into the second half strongly with Kofi Kordzi taking the place of Kojo Obeng Jr, the substitution seemed to work as Hearts created some more openings in the Kotoko area.
Hearts of Oak continued to impress, but the defence of Asante Kotoko stood resolute to prevent any havoc.
Coach Kim grant introduced Malik Akowuah, and Traore Abubakar into the game to strengthen his attack, Charles Akonnor on the other hand brought on Jordan Opoku for Keita, the substitution did not have any instant impact,m as Hearts continued to dominate.
In the 90th, Hearts of Oak protested against the referee not allowing a penalty, after Joseph Esso was brought down in the box.
Few minutes on the referee awarded a penalty to Hearts after a Kotoko defender handled the ball in the box, Bonney, who has scored five penalties already in the competition stepped up and calmly slotted in to take the game into penalty shootout.
In the penalty shootout, Mohammed Alhassan wastes his kick to give Kotoko the win, after all nine players for both sides had scored.
GNA
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS