Kotoko Beat Liberty

Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals 2-1 in their GT Premier League match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday.

The home team went into attack from the blast of the referee's whistle and nearly took the lead in the first minute but Osei Akoto, playing against his former club shot wide.

Liberty gradually warmed themselves into the game and multiplied in attack but the defense men of Kotoko led by Skipper Issah Ahmed warded them off, but in the 13th minute, the defender got injured and was replaced by Sam Addo.

Liberty continued to piled pressure on Kotoko and this nearly paid-off for them when in the 16th minute, Peter Ofori-Quaye who combined perfectly with Michael Helegbe and Felix Baffoe shot off target.

Against the run of play it was however Kotoko who took the lead in the 39th minute through George Yamoah who connected home Nasiru Gani's pass.

Liberty accepted the challenge and quickly got the equalizer three minutes later through Ofori-Quaye who shot to the blind side of goalkeeper Habib Mohammed in the post for Kotoko.

On resumption of the second half the game became a ding-dong affair with Liberty slightly on top as their attackers kept on shooting from all angles in an attempt to take the lead.

As the visitors continued to make things difficult for the Kotoko defense, they brought on Kofi Nti Boakye for Felix Baffoe in 66th minute but it was Kotoko who quickly took over proceedings when Douglas Nkrumah pounced on a loose ball and raced with it to beat two defenders before laying a pass to Nasiru Gani who neatly whacked the ball into the net in the 68th minute for the match winner.

Kotoko brought on Daniel Bomfah for Nkrumah after the goal while Michael Ofosu-Appiah also took over from Godfred Yeboah in the 77th minute.

Kotoko from then piled pressure on Liberty and in the 79th minute a 30 metre free-kick from Yusif Chibsah hit the cross-bar and went off target while Gani also missed a glaring chance in the 81st minute. Liberty brought also brought on Osei Bonsu for Stanley Afedzie in the 88th minute and mounted a desperate attack but their attempt at goal failed to yield any fruitful result till the final whistle.