We were lucky against King Faisal- Mariano Barreto

Asante Kotoko SC head coach, Mariano Barreto has admitted that his side were fortunate to salvage a point against King Faisal FC in Obuasi. 

The Porcupines settled for a 1-1 draw with relegation battling Faisal in the Kumasi derby played at the Len Clay Sports Stadium on Saturday. 

Kotoko went down inside the first 20 minutes of the match and left it late in the die embers to share the spoils with Faisal. 

Speaking after the game, Barreto said the Reds were lucky to equalise late in the game. 

“They(King Faisal) tried to surprise us but we didn’t make anything special to change the game because we were so much in advance. 

“Some player were in so much advance, we lose balls…Some players were not here today and this also affected the routine of the players. 

“But we didn’t give up and they(the players) fight , they fight , they fight as they could and we equalised. 

“But we are lucky and we have to consider that we were lucky. 

Asante Kotoko,57, despite the draw still hold on to their second place spot but have put Hearts of Oak,59, four points close to win the league with two games left in the season.

A victory for the Phobians on Sunday, July 4, will stretch their lead to 5 points at the top. 

Meanwhile, King Faisal who are on 37 points need to win one of their remaining two matches in the league to be safe from relegation.