Match Report of Nations FC 2 Asante Kotoko 2 : The Ashanti derby between Nations FC and Asante Kotoko ended in a four-goal thriller at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex on Sunday October 22nd during Week Six of the Ghana Premier League as Kotoko supporters broke stadium seats and threw them onto the pitch to protest against a penalty decision against their team in injury time.
After a balanced game in the first half which produced no goals , it was the team coached by the veteran Ghanaian trainer Kasim Mingle Ocansey that took the lead in the 50th minute as defender Ansu Henry scored an own goal following a corner kick taken by the home team.
When the corner kick was taken by Nations FC left back Kwame Boakye , the former Berekum Chelsea tried to clear the danger but he shockingly headed it into his own net. Ibrahim Danlad tried to keep it out but he was unsuccessful.
The goal was initially recorded in the name of Amidou Diarra in jersey number seven for Nations FC but replays showed it was an own goal.
Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum made changes to his team by introducing Steven Mukwala Dese , Michael Kyei Dwamena and Bernard Somuah as Georges Mfegue , Andrews Ntim Manu and Peter Acquah Amidu went out.
These changes brought immediate good impact to the Kotoko team as Mukwala equalized in the 88th minute.
Kalo Ouattara’s strike came off the foot of the Uganda attacker on the way through to the back of the net as Burkinabe goalkeeper Rabin Ousmane Sanon was beaten after making two brilliant saves in quick succession from Augustine Agyapong’s freekick and Ouattara’s rebound.
Just four minutes later , another substitute Kyei Dwamena put Kotoko ahead with a fine finish.
Mukwala did well to locate Richmond Lamptey who burst into the Nations FC penalty box. The former Inter Allies playmaker then brilliantly cut the ball back for Kyei Dwamena who produced a terrific placement to put Kotoko 2-1 up.
Ten minutes were added as additional time by referee Latif Abdul Qadir and the home team went on to earn a penalty as Nana Bayin Amoah was penalized for handling the ball. The furious Kotoko supporters protested by breaking the seats at the stadium and throwing them onto the pitch to register their displeasure.
The game was halted for close to ten minutes as the traveling fans of the Reds kept on throwing things onto the pitch. It took the intervention of Kotoko coach Dr. Ogum who moved from his dugout to talk to the fans to stop the mayhem.
After the missiles were cleared from the pitch , the game was restarted for the penalty to be taken and it was Ivorian forward player Amidou Diarra who perfectly converted to finally put his name on the score sheet as he sent Ibrahim Danlad the wrong way to close the game at 2-2.
The draw leaves Asante Kotoko at the 7th position on the league table on seven points after six league matches played whilst Nations FC are 14th with their five points collected from five games.
See the official team sheet :
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