Ashanti Gold beat their regional rivals Asante Kotoko on penalty shoot-outs to win the BK Edusei Cup at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi today.
The Miners were dealt a big blow as pivotal defender Richard Osei Agyemang sustained an injury during the warm-up and had to be substituted as early as the second minute for Musah Mohammed.
Ashanti Gold nearly had the opener in the 9th minute, as captain Shafiu Mumuni couldn’t have a perfect connection from Amos Addai’ through ball.
Asante Kotoko defender Ampem Dacosta received a yellow card in the 38th minute for a bad sliding on Marco Silva.
Yussif Mubarik delivered a perfect tackle to deny Asante Kotoko striker Richard Arthur a goal scoring opportunity in the 43rd minute.
The first forty-five minutes ended in a goalless.
Ashanti Gold returned from the recess with a spectacular performance in the early minutes of the cagey encounter.
In-form James Akaminko shot from afar in the 48th minute, but the ball went wayward for a goal kick.
Frank Boateng denied Asante Kotoko a chance to get the opener, with a spectacular save in the 50th minute.
In the 52nd minute, Eric Donkor sent a low ball in but skipper Shafiu Mumuni headed from a close range but his header went out wide.
Marco Aurelio Silva was an inch close to the opener but his powerful shot from afar, narrowly rised over for a goal kick in the 55th minute.
In the 58th minute, Kwadwo Amoako and Abdul Latif Anabila were shown the yellow card.
Coach Ricardo Da Rocha made his first change as he brought in Emmanuel Owusu for Marco Silva in the 60th minute.
Kotoko’ Naby Keita also came in for Godfred Asiamah in the 63rd minute.
Defender Musah Mohammed was booked for a bad play in the 69th minute.
David Abagna came in for Appiah MacCarthy in the 76th minute for Ashanti Gold while Amos Kofi Nkrumah substituted Amos Addai.
Both teams enjoyed possession but the game ended goalless and had to be separated via penalty shoot-outs, where Ashanti Gold won 4-3.
