Asante Kotoko SC pipped bitterest rivals Hearts of Oak to prevail in the Super Clash on Sunday afternoon at the Babayara Stadium in Kumasi as they keep their momentum towards the title.
The 1-0 vital victory against Phobians has seen the Porcupine Warriors maintain their lead at the top of the Ghana Premier League standings.
The Kumasi based giants have now opened a sixteen point gap between them and the Rainbow club. Franck Mbella Etouga’s first half penalty gave Kotoko their first win over the Phobians in the last two seasons.
Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum made only two changes the Kotoko team that pipped King Faisal Babes 1-0 in the Kumasi derby last week at the Babayara Stadium.
Maxwell Agyemang came into the starting lineup replacing Justice Blay who is missing the game through an injury. Blay played as makeshift central defender last week. With Dr. Ogum wanting to attack the Phobians, forward Boateng came in for Mudasiru Salifu in the start list of the Porcupines.
Hearts gaffer Samuel Boadu also made three alterations to the squad that beat Medeama SC 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium in the last round fixtures.
Robert Addo Sowah took the place of Caleb Amankwah in central defence whereas Salim Adams replaced Ushau Abu in the middle of the park.
Abdulaziz Nurudeen was brought back into the starting eleven as he replaced Agyenim Boateng while new boy Samuel Inkoom entered the game in the second half to make his debut in the Rainbow shirt.
Kotoko got the opportunity to go ahead in the 15th minute after winning a penalty following a foul inside the box on Brazilian playmaker Fabio Gama dos Santos by Nurudeen.
Cameroonian import Etouga stepped up to effect the kick sending goalkeeper Richmond Ayi the wrong way to take his goals tally in the season to 16 as he gave the hosts the lead. The Porcupine Warriors should have been up by two or more goals with their dominance over Hearts but failed to make their chances count.
The Phobians lifted up their performance in the second period of the match but non of their efforts could threatened the Kotoko goal.
Cameroonian forward Georges Mfegue Omgba come close to netting the second goal for the Fabulous lads.
The Reds continue to lead the pack with 52 points from 24 matches with Bechem United at the second place who have 44 points.
Source: ghanasoccernet.com