Reigning Ghana Premier League champions Asante Kotoko, added to the woes of Medeama with a slender 1-0 victory over the Tarkwa-based side at the Akoon Park on Saturday.
It was the fourth consecutive defeat for Medeama in the match-day six clash of the betPawa Premier League.
The Porcupine Warriors made it their second victory over their counterparts, having secured a 2-0 victory at the same venue last season.
A 59th-minute solo goal from Nicholas Mensah was enough to give Kotoko another victory to temporarily claim the top spot on 13 points – having recorded four wins, one defeat and a draw.
But for the pitiable form of Medeama, it could have been tighter for Kotoko who were able to make few incursions in the early minutes.
Medeama trainer David Duncan made three changes to the team that lost 1-0 to Great Olympics in their previous meeting with talisman Kwasi Donsu relegated to the bench.
Ivorian goalkeeper Boris Junior Mandjui returned to mount the post for the first time after being side-lined with injury for months.
Kotoko coach Seydou Zerbo also made a couple of changes to the starting line-up that came from behind to beat FC Samartex 2-1 in Kumasi last week. Samuel Boateng was handed his very first start of the season ahead of Isaac Oppong, while Dickson Afoakwa got the nod over Ernest Poku.
It was a fairly-balanced game with both teams fighting for the opener, but it was Kotoko who came close to scoring in the 22nd minute when Mensah’s effort from Augustine Agyapong’s cross hit the side of the post.
Not long after, Danlad Ibrahim denied Medeama SC with a great save and sent a long pass to forward Steve Mukwala, who also missed by inches.
Aftere recess, the introduction of Eric Zeze, Enoch Morrison and Georges Mfegue added more bite to the attack of Kotoko who kept probing for the opener.
Minutes into the second stanza, a transformed Kotoko broke the deadlock through Mensah to mark his third goal of the campaign.
A sweet build-up from the right of attack found Nicholas Mensah who wiggled his way through the Medeama defence and slotted it home from the near post to put Kotoko ahead in the 59th minute.
The Porcupine Warriors were reduced to 10-men after Ivorian import Eric Serge Zeze was sent off following a second caution in the 88th minute.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
