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Asante Kotoko honeymoon in the Ghana Premier League seems over as team fail to secure the three maximum points against Real Tamale United (RTU) in Kumasi on Wednesday evening.
Prior to the game, the Porcupines had lost to King Faisal at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and were hoping to tame newbies RTU in Kumasi to bring smiles back to the faces of supporters, but the result went otherwise.
Coach Prosper Narteh’s side were held to a 1:1 stalemate by a resilient RTU side who gave an enthralling display at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.[ads2]
Kotoko were determined to get an early goal to frustrate RTU, dominating possession and creating goal threatening opportunities but all to no avail.
Eventually, the Porcupines were awarded a penalty after attacker George Mfegue goes first to a through pass but held by the keeper as he gets the ball beyond him in the 41st minute.
Skipper Abdul Ganiyu missed the opportunity as his strike went off target.[ads3]
Finally, Frank Etouga broke the deadlock for Asante Kotoko with a sumptuous effort.
Etuoga picked a pass at the edge of the box and with three markers surrounding him, manages to skew a shot that first goes off the upright before rolling into the net.
Richmond Lamptey nearly doubled the lead for Asante Kotoko but his strike in the 54th minute from RTU halfwa missed the crossbar narrowly.
In the 59th minute, Stephen Amankona missed another great opportunity that could have doubled Kotoko lead as he latches onto a low pass inside the box with a first-time shot but is unlucky as the ball misses the posts narrowly.[ads4]
In-form David Abagna had the equaliser for RTU with a close-range shot from the rebound of Abalora’s save in the 70th minute.
Solomon Sarfo Taylor nearly scored the match winner for Asante Kotoko in the 82nd minute. The striker was pushed in a 50-50 challenge with the keeper but got up to pick the ball amid a fierce heckling from a marker, he managed to shoot but the ball was palmed by the RTU goalkeeper.[ads5]
