Kumasi Asante Kotoko yesterday thrashed visiting Wikki Tourists of Nigeria 4-1 in the second leg of their Confederation Cup match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi. Kotoko have thus qualified on a 6-3 aggregate after drawing 2-2 in their first leg match played in Nigeria a fortnight ago.
Wikki, who kicked off on a vigorous note nearly scored in the eighth minute but lack of decision and concentration by Philip Auda denied them of an early goal.
Soon after the early scare, Kotoko's skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffour set the tone for the rout when he beat Wikki's keeper Raymond Katung in the 19th minute after he had rounded up two defenders in the 18-yard box.
The thunderous cheers that greeted the goal should have gingered up Kotoko for more goals but they rather allowed their opponents to dictate most part of the game creating anxious moments for the 'Red-shirted boys'.
Determined to win the game at all cost and with the home supporters craving for more goals, the "Porcupine Warriors" stepped up their game in the latter parts of the first half but could not utilize the many chances that came their way.
On resumption of the second half, Kotoko attacked in droves and managed to increase their goal tally to two when head striker Eric Bekoe connected home a Francis Cofie's in-swinger in the 53rd minute.
Bekoe made it three for Kotoko in the 63rd minute when he planted the ball in the far corner after he beat on-rushing keeper Katung from a counter-attack before enterprising Cofie sealed the doom of the visitors with a spectacular goal in the 68th minute.
Nana Arhin Duah took over from two-goal hero Bekoe in the 81st minute while Cofie also gave way to good old petit Stephen Oduro in the 76th minute.
Wikki came into back in the dying minutes of the game and managed to score a consolation goal through Auda when he meandered his way through the Kotoko defence before blasting home a thunderbolt of a shot to beat Kotoko's keeper Souleman Abdulahi in the 83rd minute to bring the final scores to 4-1 in favour of the "Porcupine Warriors'.
Wikki, who kicked off on a vigorous note nearly scored in the eighth minute but lack of decision and concentration by Philip Auda denied them of an early goal.
Soon after the early scare, Kotoko's skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffour set the tone for the rout when he beat Wikki's keeper Raymond Katung in the 19th minute after he had rounded up two defenders in the 18-yard box.
The thunderous cheers that greeted the goal should have gingered up Kotoko for more goals but they rather allowed their opponents to dictate most part of the game creating anxious moments for the 'Red-shirted boys'.
Determined to win the game at all cost and with the home supporters craving for more goals, the "Porcupine Warriors" stepped up their game in the latter parts of the first half but could not utilize the many chances that came their way.
On resumption of the second half, Kotoko attacked in droves and managed to increase their goal tally to two when head striker Eric Bekoe connected home a Francis Cofie's in-swinger in the 53rd minute.
Bekoe made it three for Kotoko in the 63rd minute when he planted the ball in the far corner after he beat on-rushing keeper Katung from a counter-attack before enterprising Cofie sealed the doom of the visitors with a spectacular goal in the 68th minute.
Nana Arhin Duah took over from two-goal hero Bekoe in the 81st minute while Cofie also gave way to good old petit Stephen Oduro in the 76th minute.
Wikki came into back in the dying minutes of the game and managed to score a consolation goal through Auda when he meandered his way through the Kotoko defence before blasting home a thunderbolt of a shot to beat Kotoko's keeper Souleman Abdulahi in the 83rd minute to bring the final scores to 4-1 in favour of the "Porcupine Warriors'.
Kotoko Line up: Souleyman Abdulahi, Samuel Incoom, Osei Kwame Jnr, Dan Acquah, Prince Anokye, Jordan Opoku, Daniel Nii Adjei, Francis Akwafo, Francis Cofoe/Stephen Oduro, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Eric Bekoe/Nana Arhin Duah.
Source: GNA
Posted: 07/04/08