A robust Medeama display ensured the visitors snatch away a point from Asante Kotoko in a pulsating 2-2 drawn game at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
The porcupine warriors playing before home crowd for the first time this season were keen on brushing aside their opponents especially after a bad start to the season in which they lost 0-2 away to WAFA SC.
But the visitors had their own plans up their sleeves. Head coach Tom Strand was under pressure to save his job after going two games without a point.
New signing Bennett Ofori opened the scoring in the 22nd minute but the Kotoko lead was canceled by a stunning Malik Akowuah free-kick which went past goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi for the equalizer on 39 minutes.
The Kotoko bench led by coach David Duncan looked dismayed by the performance of centre referee Prosper Adi and constantly reacted to most of his decisions in the first half.
Referee Adi however failed to turn up for the second half claiming to have twisted his ankle during the first stanza. His place was filled by 4th official Emmanuel Ansah.
In the second half, another Kotoko new signing, Michael Yeboah found his name on the score sheet from a fortuitous goal. It was Medeama left-back Moses Sarpong whose blunder iin the 56th minute which gifted Yeboah the 2nd goal for the porcupine warriors.
The Mauve and Yellows fought their way back into the game and pegged their hosts back for the second time through substitute Bismark Oppong’s sensational strike in the 76th minute.
Medeama came close to snatching a late winner as they piled excessive pressure on Kotoko. Goalkeeper Ofori Antwi gifted the visitors a free-kick at the edge of the box but Medeama failwd to convert.
The result leaves the porcupine warriors frustrated at 13th position with a game in hand while Medeama posit just above bottom placed Aduana Stars.
Strange refereeing
Sharing his thoughts after the final whistle, coach David Duncan could not hide his frustrations at referee Propser Adi’s first half performance.
The Kotoko gaffer said: “Right from the beginning, the way officiating was going really unsettled us. We didn’t know what intention the middleman had coming into the game. Quite a number of free-kicks in threatening positions were awarded Medeama out of which the got one goal out. So in situations like these, you really do not know exactly what to tell your players – whether to take it easy, where to play above themselves, more than 100% and all of that.
“But I thought goals that could have been prevented were what we conceded. All be it, we also had some fortuitous goals. At the end of the day two all. For me, it’s a fair reflection of the game apart from the initial hieratic officiating from the centre referee,” Duncan stated.
Kotoko are scheduled to clear their outstanding game this Wednesday against regional rivals AshantiGold at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Lineups:
Kotoko:
Medeama:
