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Kotoko’s title chase alive …break stubborn Inter Allies to narrow gap

Kumasi Asante Kotoko yesterday exhibited an unwavering fighting spirit to keep their title chase alive when they beat Inter Allies 3-2 in a pulsating week 29 league game at the Theatre of Dreams at Dawu.

The nervy encounter which was preceded by Kotoko’s arch-rivals, Hearts winning 2-0 against Medeama in Accra on Sunday, compelled the ‘Porcupine Warriors’ to keep pace with their rivals with both teams locked on 53 points.

Kotoko’s determination to carry the day was evident as they grabbed an early lead through skipper of the side, Emmanuel Gyamfi in the 27th minute.

The lead was, however, short-lived as Alex Aso equalised for Allies in the 37th minute.

Evans Adomako put Kotoko ahead in the waning minutes of the first-half but Allies forward Andy Okpe grabbed the leveler again before Andrew Appau’s header in the 71st minute turned out to be the winner for the visitors.

Kotoko started the game on a strong footing, sending signals of a team hungry for victory led by speedster Emmanuel Gyamfi and the iconic playmaker Fabio Gama.

The early pressure paid off, as the home side cracked in the 27th minute when Gyamfi pounced on Adomako’s header inside the Allies box to give Kotoko the opener.

Allies, bottom of the league, did not seem unraveled by the visitors lead as they kept their game together, looking for their own moments to hit back.

That moment arrived in the 37th minute when Aso restored parity for the home side.
A blunder from Adomako led to Allies dangerman Nafiu Sulemana gaining control of the ball.

Employing his pace, he dribbled past Kotoko right-back Christopher Nettey, entered his opponent’s box before locating an unmarked Alex Aso with a low cross to tap home.

Three minutes later Adomako went from villain to hero when he made amends for his blunder by restoring Kotoko’s lead.

The attacker finished off a move from Emmanuel Gyamfi. Gyamfi’s first attempt to shoot after receiving a lofted ball from Nettey, was blocked by the Allies defense.

The winger then opted to cross to a lurking Adomako who gave Kotoko the lead.

After the break, the homeside showed no signs of giving up on their survival fight as they kept Kotoko on the back foot with Nafiu Sulemana leading their assault.

The persistence was rewarded in the 29th minute when Okpe rose highest to power home the equaliser.

However, Kotoko showed a superior fighting spirit to grab the winner with 19 minutes left.

A well-crafted free-kick from Gama was powered home by defender Andrew Appau.

Interestingly the third goal did not dent the spirit of the ‘Eleven is to One ‘ boys as they dominated the exhanges, organising their game to exploit any weakness that was manifest in the visitors defence.

Tried as they did, Allies forward men, Nafiu Sulemana , Richmond Lamptey, Alex Aso,

Andy Okpe and Nafiu Sulemana the met imposing trio of Habib Mohammed, Andrew Appau and Mubarik Yussif who replaced the injured Abdul Ganiu unable to bend.

BY NANA BENTSI ODURO


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