Leading scorer Franck Etouga Mbella bagged a second-half brace to give Asante Kotoko a 2-0 win over Dreams FC in a 2021/22 Ghana Premier League (GPL) match-day 18 fixture at Baba Yara Sports Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Porcupine Warriors have now opened a 10-point lead at the top of the league log after punishing a wasteful ‘Still Believe’ side to pick the maximum points as second-placed Bechem United lost away at Medeama.
After a goalless first half where Dreams will be guilty of not taking their chances, Mbella slotted in brilliantly from the spot in the 73rd minute after goalkeeper Koomsen tripped him inside the box.
Karim Zito’s side gave away a second goal in the 82nd minute with a defensive mishap that the Cameroonian pounced on and scored from a rebound after his initial shot hit the base of the post.
Kotoko thought they had scored a third goal when substitute Mudasiru Salifu headed in a corner in the 90th minute but referee Misbau Mohammed ruled it out.
Prosper Narteh Ogum’s men are now on 40 points, while Dreams FC are 10th with 23 points from 18 games.
Next up, the Porcupine Warriors will be battling Hearts of Oak in the President’s Cup on March 4 and as a result, their match-day 19 visit to Bechem United has been pushed to Tuesday, March 8.
Dreams FC, meanwhile, will welcome Elmina Sharks to Dawu Park on March 6.
By Adamu Benin Abdul Karim
