Cameroonian striker, Franck Etouga earned the perfect redemptive moment when he scored a hat-trick in Asante Kotoko’s thrilling 3-1 win over Accra Lions at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday to stretch their lead to six points after match week 17 of the Ghana Premier league (GPL).
He began the rampage as early as the fourth minute, doubling the effort on the stroke of halftime before putting the icing on the cake seven minutes to end the game.
Kelvin Kyei’s expertly-hit penalty kick in added-on time of the first-half reduced the deficit for the visitors.
Kotoko have thus opened a six-point gap on the league log with 36 points, after second-placed Bechem United’s title chase was thwarted by their 1-1 stalemate away at Berekum Chelsea, leaving them on 30 points.
When the two sides were signaled into action by referee George Mawuli Vormawor, the home side’s quest for an early goal became apparent as they high-pressed to overwhelm the visitors.
A shot corner-kick by left-back Patrick Asmah to Richmond Lamptey was released to Sheriff Mohammed whose low drive was deflected unto the path of Etouga on the edge of the visitor’s box.
He swiftly played the ball into space inside the opponent’s box, beating-off a challenge by Lions defender Jacob Amu Mensah to hit a low shot that flew under Lions goalie Frederick Asare’s arms.
Determined not to be overawed by the league leaders, Lions ralliedtogether and nearly earned the leveler after good footwork from dangerman Daniel Awuni who outwitted Kotoko captain, Abdul Ganiu,and delivered a sumptuous cross into the box nut was over hit by the onrushing Kelvin Kyei.
The miss turned out to be fatal as Etouga won a penalty for his side after referee Mawuli Vormawor judged Lions Ousman Kassim to have fouled him.
Etouga stepped up and converted brilliantly.
Shortly after, Lions gained a lifeline before the break when Kelvin Kyei expertly hit a penalty-kick awarded to the visitors when Kotoko’s Justice Blay was deemed to have impeded Kyei in the box.
Kotoko sensing the unrelenting fight of the visitors after creating some scary moments for them early in the second-half probed for a second goal to deflate the visitor’s confidence.
Once again it was Etouga who stepped up to the plate, grabbing his 11th goal of the season and climbing to the top-scorers chart with a breathtaking finish.
But Kotoko’s fiercest rivals, Hearts of Oak continued with their struggles when they played to a goalless game with Real Tamale United at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
The result is surely a worry for the followers of the Phobians as far as their title defence was concerned.
Coming from a painful defeat to Olympics last Sunday, Coach Samuel Boadu’s charges had high hopes of returning to winning ways but it did not happen.
Making his first start for the club, Sulley Muntari threatened the RTU area with a delightful corner kick but the goalkeeper for the home side, Yaw Osei, proved equal to the task.
Isaac Mensah was presented with a chance to give Hearts the lead on 12 minutes but his first touch was poor and had to sky his effort.
Hearts created a series of decent chances to win the game but they failed to break the RTU rear to find the back of the net.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
