Leaders Asante Kotoko kick-started match-day 15 of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League (GPL) with a 2-0 win over Great Olympics at Baba Yara Sports Stadium Friday afternoon.
Cameroonian import Franck Thierry Etouga Mbella was the inspiration, scoring both goals to take his tally to 8 for the Porcupine Warriors in the first half of the game.
Kotoko started so well dominating the early possession and putting pressure on the Olympics defence.
The visitors looked confused and were left chasing shadows. And by the 8th minute, centre-back Ebenezer Sekyere caused his side a penalty by bringing down Etouga Mbella who had outwitted him.
Etouga Mbella elected himself and expertly converted the spot-kick in the 9th minute.
Chances kept coming the way of Kotoko but failed to increase their lead.
But Georges Mfegue would take things into his own hands by brilliantly taking on and dragging two markers down the left – the 24-year-old striker then dashed into the box and found Richmond Lamptey who laid the ball to Etouga Mbella to finish with a slight touch.
Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum’s side led 2-0 at the break and so the scoreline remained despite Olympics improving markedly in the second half.
Kotoko’s brightest chance of extending the lead came in the 70th minute when Mfegue broke away after winning the ball from Rodney Appiah but his slow decision-making one-on-one with the Olympics goalkeeper allowed the young son of Ghana great Stephen Appiah to recover and stop him with a well-timed tackle.
The record league champions settled for a 2-0 win – their 10th in 14 matches – and are in cruise control with 33 points in the league standings. Second-placed Aduana FC – on 24 points – host Bechem United on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Great Olympics are in 6th position with 22 points from 15 games and risk going down a few places after this round of matches gets cleared on Sunday.
Two-goal hero Franck Thierry Etouga Mbella won the NASCO man-of-the-match award.
