Asante Kotoko (Gha) 2 (Arhin-Duah 32, Ablordey 70)
Atletico Sonangol (Ang) Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat Athletico Sonangol of Angola 2-0 in their delayed first leg of the Africa Cup Winners Cup preliminary clash at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Monday. Kotoko, hungry for an African challenge after nine years drought were full of fight and fetched the leader on the 32nd minute through enterprising newfound Nana Arhin Duah.

Whiles Kotoko pushed to increase the lead, the Angolans ventured in the Kotoko vital area using fast breaks. Skipper Godwin Ablordey, Shilla Alhassan and Duah all missed scoring chances through erratic shooting and Magola Louis Malo of Angola failed to punish the Ghanaians after capitalising on a sloppy attack by Joe Hendricks in the 40th minute. The score remained solitary in the Ghanaians favour until half time.

Back from recess, Sonangol raised the tempo of their game further and earned two cornerkicks in the 48th and 49th minutes respectively but wasted them while Kotoko also earned a free-kick just outside the penalty box of the visitors in the 54th minute and wasted it.

Playing confidently in this half, the Angolans made a change in the 58th minute bringing on Nagunda Nguyilo for Mabaluka Yabatangu but it was Kotoko who nearly raised their tally but Joe Sam whittled away a good opportunity, crossing feebly into the hands of goalkeeper Sebestian.

However, Kotoko was not to be denied their second goal. In the 70th minute, skipper Godwin Ablordey initiated a two-man move from midfield and took a beautiful wall pass on the run, dummied the defence and shot into the right side of the goal after displacing goalkeeper Sebestian.

The Angolans after this goal pulled out Magola Louis Malo for David Pedro in a bid to strengthen their midfield to avoid more goals in the 73rd minute and again sent in Bengue Fernando for Kanhaga Miguel on the 80th minute mark while Kotoko also sent in Nana Frimpong for Shilla Alhassan in the 74th minute.

After his long lay-off, it became obvious that Joe Louis 's inclusion was a bad one as he could not cope with the trend of play and had to be substituted in the 81st minute with Dan Acquah. Kotoko made a last minute effort to score their third goal but goalkeeper Sebestian made a clean save of Nana Frimpong's header from a cornerkick during extra time.