Rail Club du Kadiogo recovered from a 1-0 first leg deficit to beat Asante Kotoko 3-1 on penalties and book their place in the second preliminary round of the 2022/23 Caf Champions League on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors went into the game at their favourite Baba Yara Sports Stadium home grounds in Kumasi buoyed by a solitary goal victory from the away first leg held in Benin last Monday.
But a 16th-minute Dramane Kambou deflected free-kick for the visiting Burkinabe side forced a shootout.
It was punishment for Kotoko who were profligate at the other end of the pitch – forwards Samuel Boateng and Steven Mukwala spurned the early scoring opportunities that fell their way.
Kotoko threatened several times but ended up without reward while Kadiogo deployed patient, counterattacking tactics amidst time-wasting antics to frustrate their hosts.
The withdrawal of the front duo with Solomon Sarfo Taylor and Cameroonian Georges Mfegue did little impact on the game as Kadiogo managed to repeal attacks until the final whistle from Ivorian referee Patrick Tanguy Viel.
Tied 1-1 on aggregate, penalty shootouts ensued to determine the winner.
Centre-back Mubarik Yusif converted Kotoko’s first penalty and was the only player to do so by sending Kadiogo goalkeeper Babayouré Aboubacar Sawadogo the wrong way with a neat feeble strike.
Kotoko’s Solomon Sarfo Taylor, Nicholas Osei Bonsu and Enoch Morrison subsequently took turns to miss the next three takes.
Though Kadiogo also missed their second kick, they converted three with goalkeeper Babayouré putting away the winning effort to cement his hero status and a spot for his side in the second preliminary round where they will be facing DR Congo side AS Vita Club.
