Asante Kotoko surged back to secure a 3-1 victory at home against Dreams FC in a 2020/21 Ghana Premier League (GPL) match-day 23 fixture Saturday afternoon.
Dreams looked the better side while the hosts endured a shaky first half at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.
The Believers, who were having the momentum, won a penalty and converted through Agyenim Boateng Mensah in the 38th minute after a shot struck the hand of Brazilian Fabio Gama in the Kotoko box.
After going down, Kotoko responded in the right manner and deservedly levelled four minutes later.
Gama, looking to make amends after conceding the penalty, burst into life and picked out Emmanuel Gyamfi with a defence-splitting pass with the winger sending in a perfect cross for Brazilian striker Michael Vinicius to pull Kotoko level with a free header.
The opening 45 minutes ended 1-1.
But it was Kotoko who returned better in the second half after substitutions which saw fit-again Ibrahim Osman coming on for Augustine Okrah and Michael Vinicius making the way for Francis Andy Kumi.
Gyamfi, after his first-half assist, was involved again as the Porcupines benefitted from a controversial penalty decision. In the 53rd minute, centre referee Andrews Awurisa adjudged that defender Abdulai Ibrahim had knocked down substitute Andy Kumi who was attempting to score off the winger’s pass into the box.
Centre-back Abdul Ganiyu Ismail stepped up and expertly converted by sending goalkeeper Solomon Agbasi the wrong way on 56 minutes.
Dreams struggled to react well after going 2-1 down.
And Andy Kumi rubbed salt in their wounds of the visitors by tucking home Salifu Mudasiru’s pass and made sure of the three points for Kotoko 9 minutes from time.
The Believers created a couple of chances later in the game but failed to convert any.
The 3-1 result sees Asante Kotoko temporarily return to the summit with 41 points, 7 better than Dreams FC who risk losing their 5th spot after match-day 23 is completed on Sunday
