Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea shared the spoils as they played out a 1-1 draw in their 2017/18 Ghana Premier League matchday 8 tie in Kumasi on Wednesday.
The Porcupine Warriors, who were returning home from defeat at Dawu in their last game, went down first before clawing back to force a stalemate at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Having had Kotoko goalkeeper Felix Annan deny him the opener on the half-hour mark, experienced striker Latif Salifu ensured he got it right 10 minutes later to put Berekum Chelsea into a deserved lead.
Kotoko were the less threatening side in the opening half.
Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin’s halftime pep talk seemed to have gingered his boys and it took them just three minutes after the break to peg back. Frederick Boateng, who made his league debut and scored exactly a week ago, rescued the struggling giants with his second goal of the campaign.
Both sides were guilty of missing some fine chances afterwards.
Berekum Chelsea felt hard done by when referee Latif Adaari ignored a penalty shout for what they believed was an infringement on Frederick Owusu Addai in the Kotoko penalty box.
Second half substitute Yakubu Mohammed had to be denied by a top save from Gideon Ahenkorah while at the other end, Stephen Amankona missed the biggest opportunity to restore Berekum Chelsea when he feebly slotted the ball into the waiting hands of Kotoko’s Annan.
Asante Kotoko midfielder Jackson Owusu received the NASCO Man-of-the-Match award.
Line-ups:
Kotoko XI: Felix Annan – Augustine Sefa, Eric Donkor, Amos Frimpong ©, Awudu Nafiu – Jackson Owusu, Prince Acquah, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Akwasi Nti/Jordan Opoku – Obed Owusu/Yakubu Mohammed, Frederick Boateng
Unused subs: Emmanuel Osei Kwame, Mawuli Osei, Edwin Tuffour Frimpong, Wahab Adams, Douglas Owusu Ansah
Berekum Chelsea XI: Gideon Ahenkorah – Francis Debrah, Zakaria Fuseni, Briamah Mohammed, Stephen Amankona, Evans Obeng, Collins Ameyaw/Augustine Henneh, Frederick Owusu Addae, Latif Salifu, Osei Bonsu, Edmund Arko-Mensah.
Unused subs: Solomon Obilitey Commey, Karim Abedi, Asamoah Emmanuel, Kelvin Ishmael Mensah, Godfred Adjei.
