Asante Kotoko revived their campaign in Group C of the 2018/19 Caf Confederation Cup with a 2-1 victory over ZESCO United Wednesday.
The Porcupine Warriors had lost 1-0 to Al-Hilal in the opening game of their group and needed to bounce back on home soil.
Kotoko deservedly got the opener as early as the 8th minute after bossing play from start. Burkinabe forward Songne Yacouba picked out Kwame Bonsu with a pass at the edge of the box and the midfielder saw his goal-bound deflected in a ZESCO defender.
11"
Oh my word!!!!
How did Sogne Yacouba miss that?
Abdul Fatawu manages to beat the offside trap rounds the goal keeper and unselfishly setup Yacouba but the forward misses the empty net with his strike!@AsanteKotoko_SC 1-0 @ZescoUnitedFC #TotalCAFCC
— Footy-Ghana.com 🇬🇭 (@FootyGhana) February 13, 2019
The Zambians were given a huge opportunity to equalize in the 18th minute when defender Agyemang Badu was adjudged to have brought down a ZESCO attacker.
18"
Penalty!!!!!
Emanuel Agyemang Badu brings down Kola and referee points to the spot!@ZescoUnitedFC with a chance to get back into this one@AsanteKotoko_SC 1-0 @ZescoUnitedFC #TotalCAFCC
— Footy-Ghana.com 🇬🇭 (@FootyGhana) February 13, 2019
But goalkeeper Felix Annan saved the penalty.
Saved!!!!!
Felix Annan saves the kick from Jessie Were!
We're still level and the fans have gone Wilder following Annan's heroics!@AsanteKotoko_SC 1-0 @ZescoUnitedFC #TotalCAFCC
— Footy-Ghana.com 🇬🇭 (@FootyGhana) February 13, 2019
Came the 25th minute when skipper Amos Frimpong found Yacouba with a throw in, the Kotoko no.10 brilliantly beat his marker before teeing up Emmanuel Gyamfi for a firm finish.
The two assists from Yacouba helped Kotoko take a 2-0 lead at the break.
Coach CK Akonnor’s men returned to the second half bossing the game as the opening half with Yacouba missing some clear goal chances.
ZESCO introduced Ghanaian forward Rahim Osumanu in the 65th minute who then went on to capitalize on a miscommunication between the Kotoko defenders to pull one back seven minutes later.
Frustration boiled over in the final minute of regulation time resulting in Kondwani Mtonga receiving his marching orders as ZESCO pushed forward in search of the equalizer.
Asante Kotoko managed to win 2-1 while the other second group game between Nkana FC and Al-Hilal ended in the same scoreline in favour of the Zambians. All four teams in Group C are now in three points.
The next set of games all come off in Zambia when Nkana and ZESCO host Asante Kotoko and Al-Hilal respectively on February 24.
