Asante Kotoko ended their poor run of recent form without a victory by travelling to beat Legon Cities 2-1 on match-day 9 of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League (GPL).
The match was honoured at Dawu Park on Sunday instead of the Accra Sports Stadium due to the unavailability of the latter.
Cameroonian import Franck Thierry Etouga Mbella fired both goals for the Porcupine Warriors while Abdul Rahman got the other for the hosts.
Etouga Mbella brilliantly beat goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi with a fake shot before prodding home to give Kotoko the lead after 29 minutes.
But a howler from goalkeeper Razak Abalora allowed Rahman to level for the Royals through a flicked header off a free-kick just four minutes later.
1-1 the first half ended.
No goal was further produced until the 77th minute.
Again, it was Etouga Mbella who came through for Kotoko with his brace to settle matters by swiftly connecting to a cross from the right by Stephen Amankona. His third goal in successive starts this campaign.
Franck Thierry Etouga Mbella, the 20-year-old Kotoko forward, was adjudged NASCO man-of-the-match.
The 2-1 win means third-placed Kotoko, with 17 points and a game in hand, maintain the gap with leaders Aduana (20 points) who beat Berekum Chelsea at home in a Bono derby. Legon Cities, meanwhile, slip three places down to 17th in the standings.
Asante Kotoko next face WAFA SC while Legon Cities play guests to fellow strugglers Elmina Sharks on Boxing Day.
