Asante Kotoko bounced back to winnings ways and moved six points clear in the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League (GPL) title race by thrashing Accra Lions 3-1 in a match-day 17 fixture Saturday afternoon.
After losing away to Elmina Sharks, the Porcupine Warriors saw their lead cut to four points. But second-placed Bechem United paved the way for Kotoko to open the gap once more after drawing 1-1 at Berekum Chelsea in their final fixture of the first round on Friday.
Back at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kotoko were facing debutants Accra Lions for the first time and Cameroonian import Franck Theirry Etouga Mbella turned up with an eye-catching hat-trick – his second this season.
The 20-year-old striker shot Kotoko into the lead with a left-foot effort from inside the box within three minutes of play.
Lions nearly equalized in the 16th minute when Daniel Kwame Awuni dribbled past a couple of legs in the Kotoko backline but the likes of Kelvin Kyei and Bassit Seidu failed to connect home his intelligent pass across the face of goal.
Then on the 45th-minute mark, Etouga Mbella converted a penalty to make it 2-0 after receiving a knock from the back by Lions defender Ousman Kassim.
Soon after restart came a penalty at the other end after referee George Vormawor adjudged that midfielder Justice Blay had illegitimately brought down Kelvin Kyei inside the Kotoko area. Lions will not miss an opportunity to halve the deficit as Kyei stepped up and planted home the spot-kick.
The early stages of the second half had Kotoko slowing the tempo but failed to penetrate the Lions half with their passing.
On the 50th minute mark, they found themselves behind chasing pacy wing-back Christopher Acheampong on the right flank but the attacking move did not yield results as Bassit failed to connect his cross with an attempted header from close range.
Etouga Mbella was initially denied the chance for his hat-trick by a timely clearance from defender Jacob Amu Mensah in the 75th minute. The striker brilliantly lobbed the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Frederick Asare but his goal-bound effort got cleared by the defender.
The treble eventually arrived 7 minutes from time. It was young right-back Augustine Agyapong who – with a long pass – picked out his striker who stayed onside and went on to grab his second hat-trick of the season – the first came at the same venue in a 3-1 win against AshantiGold on January 9.
Lions nearly got their second goal in the 85th minute but substitute striker Frederick Asante was denied by a point-blank save by goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim.
Asante Kotoko now lead the 2021/22 GPL standings with 36 points from 16 games. Accra Lions are on 19 points from 17 games.
The Porcupine Warriors will complete their first-round fixtures with an outstanding game away to arch-rivals Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium on February 20.
