Kumasi Asante Kotoko consolidated their lead in the Premier League by hammering Medeama SC 4-1 in their 14th week encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi Sunday.
Seidu Bancey’s brace in the 38th and 45th minutes, Jordan Opoku’s superb volley in the 49th minute, which received a standing ovation from the partisan crowd, and Prince Baffoe’s connection deep into added time gave the Porcupine Warriors the maximum points.
With Medeama SC struggling to hold Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports stadium, having succeeded in doing so in their previous encounters, they packed their midfield and defence to put the brakes on Kotoko’s attacking machinery of Yahaya Mohammed, Seidu Bancey and Richard Mpong until the 38th minute when they caved in.
In one of Kotoko’s attacks in the 38th minute, Prince Baffoe outwitted two defenders at the right flank and ran menacingly into the vital area of their opponents before floating an intelligent pass to on-rushing Bancey, who wasted no time to bury the ball into the net.
Just as the visitors were settling down, Bancey was on hand again in the 45th minute when he pounced on a loose ball and chipped it into the net during a goal-mouth melee. It was Amos Frimpong who initiated the attack from the right flank and floated a pass to Yahaya Mohammed in the area of Medeama.
With defeat staring them in the face, the visitors brought in fresh men in the second half in the hope of reducing the tally, but just then Jordan Opoku, who had been a thorn in their flesh, exploded in the 49th minute with a classic right-footed volley, which hit the back of the net, with goalkeeper Adade Foli being completely stranded.
With the fans rooting for more goals, Kotoko responded by attacking in droves, but the visitors countered beautifully and nearly redeemed a goal in the 75th minute, but substitute Godbless Asamoah shot wide in the box.
Kennedy Boateng, however, finally succeeded in redeeming a goal for Medeama in the 83rd minute when he split the defence of Kotoko and fired a shot which swept past Joseph Addo in post for Kotoko.
Just as the game was heading to the end, Prince Baffoe, who played a great game, registered his name on the score sheet with an intelligent shot which gave the fans something more to cheer about.
