Asante Kotoko began the new year 2022 in grand style on Saturday with a historic first league match win over Aduana Stars in Dormaa.
The Porcupine Warriors visited the Nana Agyemang Badu II Park on Saturday to take on the ‘Ogya’ lads for this season’s Ghana Premier League (GPL) match week 11 fixture on the New Year’s Day. The Dormaa based side went into the game with a hundred percent home record against Asante Kotoko, who, prior to the game had never scored even a single league goal against Aduana Stars in Dorma, giving Aduana a high hope of tradition repeating itself.
The home side took off with high sense of urgency in search for an early opener against coach Prosper Ogum’s side, but it wasn’t meant to be as their surge begun to dwindle with the passage of minutes. Asante Kotoko, coming from a FA Cup home defeat to city rivals King Faisal, proved to be wounded lions and responded strongly to the early threats of Aduana Stars.
The Porcupine Warriors came close to finding the net as early as the 18th minute through Richmond Lamptey, but the former Inter Allies midfielder missed the golden chance. The relentless surge for the opener by the visitors yielded results as a subsequent cross from Ibrahim Imoro found Cameroonian striker Mfegue Omgba, who rose highest to head into the net to put Asante Kotoko in the lead.
Having scored their first ever league goal against Aduana Stars at Dormaa, Asante Kotoko grew in confidence and pressed harder to deny the home side getting an equalizer as they held on till half time. Kotoko took the damage beyond repairs as they scored a second goal after the break at the latter stages of the game through Richmond Lamptey with just two minutes to end proceedings.
A solid goalkeeping and excellent defence from Asante Kotoko denied the home side any chance of creating any decent chances as they tasted a home defeat to Asante Kotoko for the first time since their league debut in 2009.
The defeat to the Porcupine warriors means Aduana Stars have lost their first place on the league table to Kotoko, who now lead the league log with 23 points, 3 points more than Aduana Stars. Coach Prosper Narteh-Ogum and his lads have given their fans a reason to enjoy the new year.
