Albert Amoah scored a dramatic latte winner for Asante Kotoko as the Porcupine Warriors claimed a 1-0 victory over rivals Hearts of Oak in the Premier League on Sunday.
The striker capitalised from a mix -up between defender Kelvin Osei Asibey and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and applied the crucial touch to settle the contest at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
It was a cruel end for two players who distinguished themselves in the game with Osei Asibey tipped to win the Man of the Match Award minutes to the howler.
However, the talented centre-back turned from hero to villain after a mix-up with his goalkeeper allowed Albert Amoah to slot home the match-winner to send their fans into wild jubilation.
Kotoko were dominant in the first half and spurned several golden opportunities to settle the contest in front of their home fans.
Albert Amoah and Baba Yahaya were the biggest culprits after they missed opportunities to put the home team ahead.
Amoah, who was named MVP, found himself in a one-on-one situation with only goalkeeper Benjamin Asare to beat in the 30th minute, but Kelvin Osei Asibey’s perfectly timed last-ditch tackle kept the score level.
Kotoko kept the heat on Hearts of Oak in the first half and could have been up by at least two goals but the Phobians kept it tight at the back with Kelvin Osei Asibey providing a solid defensive shield.
Albert Amoah’s 38th minute effort was ruled out for offside to complete a dominant first half display.
Hearts of Oak came alive in the second half with Salim Adams orchestrating their attacking play. He set up Kwabena Boateng for what seemed a certain goal, but a heroic tackle from Kotoko’s defence denied him. Both teams traded opportunities in an intense battle, but neither could find the finishing touch.
As the match edged toward a stalemate, drama unfolded in added time. A moment of hesitation and miscommunication between Osei Asibey and Asare gifted Amoah the chance to pounce. The forward made no mistake, calmly slotting home to secure all three points for Kotoko in the final action of the game.
The win sparked jubilation at the Stadium and will likely go deep into the night in Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi.
GFA Communications
