Soccer News of Saturday, 3 September 2005

Source: GNA

Kotoko wins Special Cup

Cape Coast, Sept. 3, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko confirmed their superiority over Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs when they beat them 2-1 in the second leg of their Special Cup match at the Robert Mensah Sports stadium at Cape Coast on Friday.

Kotoko won the first leg 1-0 at Konongo last Wednesday to clinch a 3-1 aggregate score to lift the gigantic cup donated by Mr I. B. Philips, Director of Wise Way laundries, Accra.

Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of Science and Environment and Member of Parliament for Cape Coast assisted by Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister presented the Cup to Kotoko. Dwarfs attacked first after referee Jeffery Amamo, who performed creditably signalled the two sides unto action and the home side wasted no time to score the opener through mid-fielder, Douglas Mustapha in the 15th minute.

The early goal gave Dwarfs the tonic to probe for more goals but their forwards squandered the chances that came their way. Kotoko some of the first team players including Nana Arhin Duah, Richard Osei, Haruna Iddrisu and Michael Ofosu Appiah took over the attack in the 30th minute and from then their attackers combined beautifully and kept their opponents vital goal area boiling. It therefore came as no surprise when outside left, Richard Osei rounded up a host of Dwarfs defenders and lobbed the ball past on-rushing keeper, Sam Yeboah in the post of Dwarfs for the equalizer in the 35th minute.

On resumption of the second half, Kotoko continued to pile pressure on Dwarfs and forced them to go to defensive but it was not until the 86th minute that substitute Odartey Lamptey scored the match winner.