Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 22 May '99
Kumasi Asante Kotoko, after their elimination in the Africa Cup Winners cup by El-Masry of Egypt, bounced back to smashing form, scoring an emphatic
3-0 victory over Tema Ghapoha in their outstanding premier league match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
Kotoko owe their victory to newly-signed player Adama Amando who inspired his side with brilliant moves, inch-perfect passes and deft touches.
The former All Blacks player not only proved elusive and artistic but also capped his brilliant performance with a spectacular goal which left the defence of Ghapoha completely stranded.
Kotoko took the field brimming with confidence and were awarded a spot-kick in the 15th minute when Amando meandered his way through the Ghapoha defence and his tailor-measured pass hit the hand of a hard-pressed Ghapoha defender.
Ghapoha protested against the penalty and heckled Cape Coast-based referee Essel Walker who flashed the yellow card against centre forward Adolf Mensah.
Gordon Ablordey converted the kick to give his side the leader.
Amando raised the score to 2-0 in the 27th minute when he raced through the Ghapoha defence, teased goalkeeper Kodjo Vessou out of the posts and cheekily slotted the ball into the empty net.
Speedster right-winger Robert Boateng increased the score to 3-0 on the stroke of half time when he latched onto a pass by Gordon Ablordey and squeezed the ball from an acute angle into the net.
Ghapoha upstaged their game on resumption as they piled the pressure on Kotoko with former Goldfields player, Kwabena Boateng tormenting the defence of the Porcupine warriors.
Kotoko staged a last minute rally but were denied a goal by the woodwork in the 89th minute when substitute Eric Arko's powerful grazed it.
GRi../