Kumasi Asante Kotoko have won the 2016 Firs Trust Savings and Loans G-6 Invitational Tournament playec at the Sekondi Essipong stadium.
A lone goal by Burkinabe international, Halipha Sedogo in the 47th minute was enough to see the ‘Porcupine Warriors’ walk away with the giant trophy at stake.
Both team came into the final match having won their respective groups. Kotoko beat Berekum Chelsea 3-1 in their first match played on Friday and drew 1-1 with Ashantigold on Saturday.
Aduana Stars on the other hand drew goalless with Accra Hearts of Oak on Thursday before thrashing SC Medeama 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Coincidentally, both Aduana and Kotoko had players gunning for the goalking award with Yahaya Mohammed and Kwame Boateng on two goals each. Unfortunately, none of them could score in the final game.
Aduana Stars made a couple of changes to the team that walloped SC Medeama on Saturday. The likes of Yahaya Mohammed and Richard Mpong were dropped to the bench, an action the coach must be regretting now looking at the impact of the duo when they later came on in the second half.
Coach Michael Osei of Kotoko maintained the same team that drew 1-1 with Ashgold.
The game, as expcted commenced on a high note with both teams gtting at eachother. Indeed it was a livly game by all standards as they fans chered very move by both teams.
The game was 2 minutes old when Aduana Stars were awarded a penalty after Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Ofori Antwi was adjueged to have fouled Daniel Darkwa in the penalty box.
Captain Godfred Saka elected himself to take the kick, but his shot was parried back into play by Kotoko goalkeeper Ofori Antwi, much to the delight of theKotoko fans.
Tyhe game sprung to life since then with end to end action from both teams. Asante Kotoko were forced into making their first substitution of the day in the 32nd minute after striker Kwame Boateng was rplaced by Michael Yeboah.
It looked like a blow to the Kotoko team judging from his qualities as a striker and that fact that he was gunning for the goal king award, but the quality of the Kotoko team made it impossible to see that he want part of the game.
The first half ended goalless.
Back from recess both teams continued from where they left off, with Kotoko slightly on top in terms of ball possession. And it came as little surprise when they scord the first goal of the game, an action that later turnd out to be the match winner.
Halipha Sedogo recive a pass from Elvis Amoh and the Burkinabe international raced into the Aduana Stars penalty box. He was met by s astiff challenge by defender Yakubu Mohammed and both players were shrugged eachother for the ball as they both fell to the ground.
Centre referee Issaka Afful whistld for a penalty an action the Aduana players protested, but th referee stood his grounds.
Halipha Sedogo pickd himself up and took the kick, sending goalkeeper Joseph Addo the wrong way. 1-0 to Kotoko with 47 minutes played.
Kotoko then picked up the momentum and pilled more pressure on Aduana who were by then in sixes and sevens. On one of such occassions defender Yakubu Mohammed was given a yellow card as he hacked down Kotoko’s Stephen Nyarko in a one on one situation.
Aduana thn brought on Yahaya Mohammed for Sam Adams in the 55th minute and followed it up with another change in the 66th minute as Richard Mpong came on for Elvis Opoku. Maxwell Frimpong also made way for Sampson Boampong Wirekoh in the 82nd minute.
Kotoko also came up with their own substitution in the 72nd minute. Reagan Gyeda came on for the goal scorer Halipha Sedogo. Mandela Azeko also came on for Elvis Amoh.
It was a nervy end to the game as Aduana Stars threw more men forward in search of the equalizr, one that will force the game into penalties. But try as they did they couldnt gert the goal the wanted.
Kotoko thus became the first Club to win the G-6 Invitational Tournament, something the organizers have mentioned has come to stay.
Asante Kotoko Pip Aduana Stars 1-0 To Win G-6 Invitational Tournament
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