Soccer News of Sunday, 12 March 2006

Source: GNA

Top 4: Kotoko draw with King Faisal

Obuasi, March 12, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Kumasi King Faisal settled for a goalless drawn game in their OneTouch TOP 4 maiden encounter at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium on Sunday. It was a match Kotoko should have won but when substitute Obeng Darko wasted a glaring chance in the 84th minute, it became obvious that the match would end goalless.

Kotoko was the first to carry the game to their opponents half but Faisal re-organised and earned the first corner kick in the seventh minute but they wasted the chance.

King Faisal's former player, Shilla Illiasu nearly drew the first blood for Kotoko in the 13th minute but his great header missed the posts narrowly.

Kotoko who were bent on carrying the day, kept their pressure on their city rivals but they failed to open the floodgates. By the 30 minute, both teams entertained the sparse crowd with good football with Kotoko's Nigerian import, Haruna Iddrisu showing abundant skills and stamina.

The Porcupine Warriors substituted injured Ahmed Toure with Mark Adu Amofa in the 40th minute to improve their attack but they were ably held in check by the Faisal defence.

Kotoko who took control of the attack and midfield wasted two corner-kicks in the 48th and 50 minutes while Faisal also came close to scoring in the 53rd minute but Kwabena Poku's long drive sailed over the bar.

Faisal replaced Awal Mohammed with Micky Ofosu whilst Kotoko surprisingly pulled out impressive Iddrisu with Kwame Obeng Darko in the 59 minute.

In the 73 minute, Baba Iddi failed to put King Faisal ahead when he woefully shot off target with Kotoko's goalie Eric Nii Baah out of the posts.

Adu Amofa nearly shot Kotoko into the lead seven minutes later but Faisal's Bobbie Ansah was quick to clear the ball from the goal line. Both teams exhausted their substitution but that could not change the score line but in the dying minutes of the game Kotoko's substitute bulky Obeng Darko surprisingly wasted a begging chance to give his side the match winner after beating an offside trap to end the match goalless.