Soccer News of Saturday, 21 May 2011

Source: GNA

Mighty Jets see-off Kotoko in grand style

Accra, May 21, GNA - Tudu Mighty Jets boosted their survival ambitions with a 2-0 win over visiting Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their Week 28 Glo Premier League clash on Saturday at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra.

A goal in each half by Jacob Kwao and substitute Abubakar Sidi ensured a deserving victory for the premiership debutants who defied the odds to silence the Kotoko faithful.

Mighty Jets displayed probably their best performance in the second round to hand the Porcupine Warriors their first loss in 10-matches with a signal to Serbian coach Bogdan Korak that there is more to do as far as his team was concerned.

With the maximum six points from their last two games, Mighty Jets remain poised in their quest to survive the premiership with two matches remaining.

For over a quarter of an hour of the opening half, there were no clear cut goal scoring opportunities by either side as the action was centred in the middle.

The first chance of the game came the way of Mighty Jets on 20 minutes, and Kwao made no mistake as his goal-bound shot deflected off Kotoko central defender John Kuffuor for the first goal.

The Kotoko midfield which revolved around veteran Stephen Oduro, Frank Boateng, Daniel Nii Agyei and Michael Akuffo was virtually non-existent as they were overpowered by their action-oriented opponents.

Kotoko's plight was further worsened as top scorer Nathaniel Asamoah, considered the team's major hope huffed and puffed after being kept at bay by the Mighty Jets defensive duo of Faisal Yusif and Isaac Owusu throughout the game.

It was the hosts all the way but were unlucky not to have doubled their lead seven minutes from half time after Kwao shot feebly with only goalkeeper Isaac Amoako to beat.

On the stroke of half time, Kotoko's midfielder Boateng delivered a spectacular volley, which was palmed away by Mighty Jets goalie Frank Andoh, representing Kotoko's best chance of the opening half.

The trend of the game was no different with Kotoko suffering a serious blow after Nii Agyei was given the marching off orders for a foot-up challenge on Mighty Jets captain Richard Ofori.

The hosts piled on pressure and were rewarded with the second goal on 70 minutes through substitute Sidi, who finished off a counter move initiated by Yahaya Mubarak. Mubarak laid a perfect pass to veteran Winfred Dormon, who fetched Sidi and the latter slid past onrushing Amoako to send the Kotoko faithful into dead silence.

Disappointed by the performance of their team, Kotoko fans angrily eased out of the stadium in clusters, but even the introduction of Samad Oppong, Albert Bruce and Mohammed Sabato for Boateng, Oduro and Anokye could barely revive their fortunes till the final whistle.