Defender Imoro Ibrahim stole the show with two assists and a goal to help Asante Kotoko secure a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Bechem United Friday night.
The 2019/20 Ghana Premier League match-day 12 encounter was the Porcupines’ first home game at the Accra Sports Stadium after adopting the facility as a result of the closure of their traditional Baba Yara home for renovation works.
Striker Hafiz Konkoni scored the opener for the Hunters against the run of play on 20 minutes.
On the half-hour mark, referee Kennedy Pady controversially awarded Kotoko a penalty after Augustine Okrah’s teasing free-kick found Justice Blay whose header had the ball rather hitting his own hand.
But after a brief consultation with Assistant 2, the centre referee rescinded his penalty decision.
Kotoko did not relent in their pursuit for the equalizer and deservedly got it 5 minutes later. It was from an Imoro Ibrahim cross from the left which goalkeeper Prince Asempa failed to deal with and Martin Antwi was just available to prod home from inside the 6-yard box with ease.
Heading into the final of 4 minutes first-half additional time, left-back Imoro delivered yet another in-swinger and in similar fashion to the one that produced the leveller, Oprah appeared behind Asempa to tuck home and give Kotoko a 2-1 lead.
The start of the second half saw the Porcupines continue to boss the game.
Striker William Opoku Mensah came close to scoring in the 55th minute but his impressive shot from outside the box was equally met by a top save from Asempa.
On the 58th minute, Imoro Ibrahim capped his imposing performance with a sumptuous free-kick strike from outside the penalty area.
Bechem were not all at the receiving end as they put some descent displays in attack but were just goal-shy.
A typical case was in the 66th minute when Prince Kwabena Adu took on three markers before releasing the ball but the ensuing low cross from the right eluded everyone for a goal kick.
In the final 15 minutes, Kotoko with the introduction of Maxwell Baakoh and later Mudasiru Salifu, took time to dictate the rhythm of the game and ended up looking satisfied with a 3-1 victory.
Kotoko’s Imoro Ibrahim was adjudged NASCO man-of-the-match.
