Asante Kotoko survived a controversially disallowed goal to scrape a 1-0 victory over a stubborn Eleven Wonders on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors made heavy weather of beating the Ghana Premier League newbies in the matchday four fixture in front of their home fans at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Striker Mawuli Osei, in his first full start, saw his header come off the crossbar in the first half.
Eleven Wonders were able to threaten Kotoko a few times with goalkeeper Felix Annan responding well – one of which came through his opposite captain Abu Dauda but he tipped over for a corner.
Kotoko huffed and puffed in search of the opener but were denied by a mixture of missed opportunities, great saves by goalkeeper John Moosie.
Emmanuel Gyamfi had the brightest chance to put Kotoko ahead in the second half when Mawuli Osei’s cross found him in the six-yard box but the Winger managed to sky the ball from that range.
Moosie was called to action again in the 77th minute and the ex-Berekum Chelsea brilliantly dived to parry away a goal-bound strike from long range by Seth Opare.
Kotoko finally broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute. Mawuli Osei, in midfield position, brilliantly turned his marker and lifted the ball towards Obed Owusu who smartly chose to dummy and allow it into the path of Jordan Opoku who was in between two defenders but the experienced midfielder managed to stretch his leg and hit the ball into the net. 1-0 to the Porcupine Warriors.
In the 87th minute, Eleven Wonders thought they had scored the equalizer only to see the goal chalked off for a debatable offside decision by referee Wiseman Ghansah. Abdul Wahab made a simple tap in after Nafiu Awudu’s attempt to head the ball out saw it come off his centre-back pair Wahab Adams but assistant referee Eric Nantiere had his flag already up.
Kotoko held on to the lead to win and move back to fourth place with 7 points, three behind their next opponents AshantiGold who also lead the league log.
Line-ups:
Asante Kotoko XI: Felix Annan © – Augustine Sefah, Daniel Darkwa, Awudu Nafiu, Wahab Adams – Seth Opare, Sylla Mohamed/47’ Obed Owusu, Jordan Opoku, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Akwasi Nti/63’ Baba Mahama, Mawuli Osei/90+ Douglas Owusu Ansah
Unused subs: Ibrahim Danlad, Emmanuel Owusu, Prince Acquah, Yakubu Mohammed
Eleven Wonders XI: John Moosie – Wahid Issahaku, Kwaku Adu/71’ Cisse Salifu, Emmanuel Boahene, Emmanuel Kwamena/61’ Francis Antwi, Abu Dauda ©, Fuseini Ganiu, Benjamin Owusu, Abdul Wahab, Iddrisu Mohammed/85’ Raphael Essien, Martin Kyeremeh.
Unused subs: Kwadwo Amoako, Fuseini Alidu, Yusif Husein, Alhassan Tahidu
