Asante Kotoko have opened the second round of the Ghana Premier League with a slim defeat as Heart of Lions pulled off a surprising 1-0 win over the Reds on Saturday.
Godfred Kwadwo Asamoah tapped in a pass for the winning goal in the 52nd minute, capping a performance of intensity and desire from a team that started the match in next-to-last place.
While the Lions climbed out of the relegation zone at least temporarily, Kotoko tasted defeat in the league for the first time since losing 1-0 to Samartex in November.
The hosts showed improved shape and organization under Coach Bashiru Hayford, extending their unbeaten run to four (3wins, 1draw).
Indeed, frustrations boiled over in the second half as Kotoko’s Nicholas Mensah got himself sent off. Kotoko were often hounded out of possession in midfield and struggled to keep their composure.
However, it was all joy in the rains for the people of Kpando as Heart of Lions claim a hard-fought win over the GPL giants for the time since 2015. They currently sit 15th after 18 games.
The defeat puts a fresh spin on Kotoko’s defensive strength and how far the current team can travel this season after they were eliminated from the FA Cup two weeks ago.
