A late strike from Aduana Stars winger Samuel Bio propelled his side to a historic away win over bitterest rivals Asante Kotoko in a fiercely contested Ghana Premier League (GPL) week 10 clash at the Accra sports stadium on Sunday.
Asante Kotoko welcomed coach Paa Kwasi Fabin’s side to their adopted home grounds in the capital for a late kick off fixture where the Porcupines were hopeful of a win to elevate them to the summit of the league table for the first time this season.
Interim coach Johnson Smith’s Asante Kotoko started the game on a high note just as expected of a home team, entertaining the fans at the stadium with some interwoven passes, bossing possession at the early stages. However, Aduana Stars was the first to cause a threat with a ferocious short at goal, but the Porcupines goalie Razak Abalora proved too good to be beaten by that 6th minute test.
Asante Kotoko kept their possessing rhythm, with Brazilian midfielder Fabio Gama wooing the spectators with silky displays that won lots of fouls and free kicks for his side. However, it was Asante Kotoko’s Patrick Asmah who became a victim of an early minute injury which forced him out of the game. He was replaced by speedster Emmanuel Gyamfi, the winger who has been under fire recently of low performances.
The former Wa All Stars (now Legon Cities) winger came in with spice to Asante Kotoko attack, as his pace on the flanks gave Aduana Stars defence dozens of questions to answer. The first half was dominated by the home side with scoring chances created. Despite switches of tactics by both coaches of the sides, the first half ended without a goal for either side.
From the break, Asante Kotoko came close to breaking the deadlock through Fabio Gama who had a scoring chance in the box, but lack of precision robbed the left footed playmaker of the opener as he blasted the ball over the bar. Second half substitute Naby Keita went solo with a short at goal but goalkeeper Joseph Addo diverted the ball out for a corner kick.
The waiting was over when substitute Samuel Bio pounced on cleared ball from the Asante Kotoko 18 yard box. He flawlessly shot beyond goalkeeper Abalora’s reach, directly into the net at the 75th minute to register what would later become the only goal in the match. The visitors then resorted to all kinds of game management tactics to ensure their opponents, who double as their bitterest rivals in terms of traditional ruling and history, go home empty handed after the last whistle.
Samuel Bio’s strike is a repeat of last season at Dormaa, the home grounds of Aduana Stars when he struck in added time to win the day for the ‘Ogya Boys’ on the day.
The defeated has made Asante Kotoko miss out on topping the league table, and have as well dropped out of the top 4. They currently lie 5th on the league table with 16 points in 10 games. The Porcupines have a hard nut to crack again as their next game in the league will be a visit to the Obuasi Len Clay sports stadium to face regional rivals, Ashanti Gold Sporting Club next Sunday.
