Asante Kotoko opened their Ghana Premier League account in the New Year 2020 with a remarkable 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Legon Cities at Accra Sports Stadium Friday night.
Playing hosts in the match-day 2 encounter, the much-hyped Cities were brilliant from start and most parts of the first half, leaving the Porcupines to struggle for their rhythm.
The Royals deservedly put their noses in front through Panayotis Papadopoulos in 10 minutes. The attacker made a short sprint-and-tap-in after a low cross fell his way from the left.
But Kotoko would respond with the equalizer on 34 minutes. A lapse in concentration at the back saw Songne Yacouba snatching possession before feeding winger Augustine Okrah who calmly lobbed the ball over an onrushing goalkeeper Fatau Dauda. – 1-1 .
The leveler gave the Porcupines some impetus as they controlled play into recess. And they continued from there in the second half.
In the 52nd minute, the Winger Emmanuel Gyamfi was the beneficiary of a poor back pass by Suleiman to his goalkeeper as he pounced on the ball inside the box to deliver a powerful direct shot past Fatau Dauda from close range.
Yacouba, with a man-of-the-match display, took on two markers as he dashed into the area then delivered a cross to the far post for a lurking Gyamfi to finish off his brace right on the hour mark.
Moments later, Kotoko nearly got a fourth goal but were denied by Fatau Dauda who first dived well to block a well-taken shot before further rushing to stop it from prodding into his own net.
Five minutes from time, Kotoko coach Maxwell Koadu, whose side had taken very much control of the scoreline and possession, decided to substitute two-goal hero Emmanuel Gyamfi to hand talented youngster Matthew Cudjoe his Ghana Premier League debut. Cudjoe thus made his topflight bow at age 16, 1 month and 23 days old.
Kotoko went on to win 3-1 and go top of the league table after the first game of match-day 2 with a 100 percent record. Their 6 points tally includes the 1-0 opening day victory at home over Techiman Eleven Wonders.
