Kumasi, Dec. 21, GNA - Defending League champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday spanked Liberty Professionals 3-1 in their Premier League match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. The 'Porcupine Warriors' started the match on a serious note and determination to reverse their recent losses at the hands of the Dansoman lads and nearly took the lead in the third minute when Alex Asamoah broke through two defenders but his right footed shot sailed over the cross bar.

Liberty accepted the challenge and came close to scoring in the seventh minute when Kotoko's defender Richard Manu fumbled around the goal area but the visitors wasted the chance to record the opener. Kotoko who were bent on a revenge earned a free kick in the vital area of Liberty but Samuel Incoom's shot hit the tip of bar and bounced back into play.

Daniel Nii Adjei gave Kotoko the lead in the 17th minute with a non-stop drive from a defender's header in a goal mouth melee. Liberty who put up a spirited game came close to equalizing in the 21st minute but Kofi Bonsu's shot missed the post narrowly. In the 30th minute, Kotoko's striker Stephen Manu was taken off the pitch following a head injury to be replaced by Kwadwo Opoku. Asamoah scored Kotoko's second goal in the 33rd minute when he beat a defender on the run before chipping a curling shot to beat Liberty's goalkeeper Daniel Adjei.

Liberty who were undaunted by the goals improved on their game plan and went ahead to pull back a goal in the 36th minute through Latif Salifu when he meandered his way through the Kotoko defence to slam the ball into a yawning net with goalkeeper Eric Nii Baah completely beaten. Kotoko opened the second session with a new vigour and piling on pressure on the visitors and their efforts earned them a result with Stephen Oduro sealing the doom of Liberty in the 54th minute when he connected home a pass from substitute Opoku.