Kumasi, Jan. 20, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC on Wednesday night fought gallantly to defeat visiting B.A. Stars 3-1 in their Glo-Premier League encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The visitors who are bottom on the league table carried the game to their opponents right from the very onset and managed to stun Kotoko with an early goal in the 2nd minute when Prince Attakora-Gyimah latched onto a Tigana Balla cross to deliver a thunderbolt of a shot which zoomed straight into the net for the opening goal.

Kotoko, however, equalized two minutes later with a classic goal from Samad Oppong in a goalmouth scramble which saw him dribble past a defender before shooting a low grounder to beat advancing goalkeeper Ernest Adu.

The home team shot into the lead in the 28th minute after Michael Akuffo converted a spot-kick from an infringement following the fouling of Nathaniel Asamoah in the 18-yard box by B.A. Stars' Emmanuel Okine who was red-carded for the offence.

On resumption of the second half, Kotoko with their pride at stake took advantage of the numerical advantage and bombarded the visitors' goal area with series of attacks which paid off as defender Awal Mohammed rose above the defence of B.A. Stars' to nod home a Nii Adjei corner kick in the 48th minute to bring the final score line to 3-1 in favour of Kotoko.

The visitors re-arranged in mid-field and defence and attacked in droves in search of at least a goal but the resolute Kotoko defence warded off many of the attacks to end the match in their favour.