Asante Kotoko win pushes Kotoku Royals into relegation
Kotoku Royals officially bowed out from the betPawa Ghana Premier League after suffering a 1-3 loss to Asante Kotoko at the Dawu Park on Monday.
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A brace by Kotoko forward, Georges Mfegue Omgba in the first half, and a strike by midfielder Rocky Dwamena three minutes after recess, condemned Royals to the second-tier competition as they had no chance of survival even if they won all their remaining matches to end the season.
Richard Dzikoe’s 36th minute strike may have reduced the deficit to 2-1 and given Royals a glimmer of hope of staging a dramatic comeback, but the Porcupine Warriors had too much firepower for the premiership debutants who sit at the bottom of the league log with 23 points from 31 matches.
The victory lifted Kotoko onto the fourth position on the league log, six points off the leaders Medeama SC and behind second-placed Aduana Stars and Bechem United.
Royals, who qualified for the elite division this season, needed a win to give them a mathematical chance of survival. But they met an unyielding Kotoko side that rode of two quick-fire goals by Omgba to establish their dominance and sink their opponents by the 48th minute.
Kotoko’s Camerounian forward opened his account as early as the eighth minute when he finished off a pass by Sarfo Taylor in the Royals goal area.
The visitors kept their foot on the accelerator with relentless attack and in one of their moves, Taylor crossed the ball from midfield to an unmarked Omgba who controlled the ball with his right foot before unleashing a left-footed volley beyond the reach of goalkeeper Frank Boateng to give the Porcupine Warriors a 2-0 lead.
Kotoku Royals did not give up the fight and their efforts were rewarded when Yakubu Hamidu Shaibu’s free kick was flighted into the path of midfielder Dzikoe who ghosted past his Kotoko marker, Mubarik Yussif, to head the ball past goalkeeper Moise Dássise Pouaty for his eighth goal of the season.
Royals have three more matches against Bibiani Goldstars (away), Tamale City and Karela United (both home) to end their premiership campaign.
