Match Report: Asante Kotoko 4-2 BA United- Super sub Richard Mpong vaults Kotoko to third with brace
Defending champions Asante Kotoko moved to third on the table after beating plucky BA United 4-2 at home on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors were made to sweat for the win by the already relegated side and have to thank substitute Richard Mpong who scored two goals in two minutes.
Captain Amos Frimpong gave Kotoko the lead on 18 minutes when he jumped to prod home Eric Donkor’s well delivered corner-kick.
Eight minutes later, Obed Owusu made it 2-0 with a powerful shot from inside the box with his left foot.
BA United looked out of sort in the final third and despite at times winning the battle in midfield, they were toothless to punish the hosts.
After the break, Kotoko recoiled and the visitors came into the picture but the script remained unchanged as they could not make any gains.
Just after the hour mark, they made incursions led by striker Abdul Wahab whose threaded ball found Abdul Karim Jabla who sneaked in from the back of Kotoko right back Attah Kusi to finish off a nice move.
Kotoko were unsettled and needed a response but BA United had already peaked and had on top of their game.
Coach Stephen Kyeremeh’s decision to introduce veterans Alex Asamoah and Kobina Dodzi- both former Kotoko players- made them livelier.
In 76th minute, Wahab connected for the equalizer after goalkeeper Joseph Addo parried Asamoah’s powerful half-volley back into play.
Four minutes afterwards, Kotoko would react and a long ball from goalkeeper Addo was teed up into the BA United area by their own defenders after a communication breakdown and Obed Owusu controlled before laying a pass for Mpong to drill into a gaping net to give Kotoko the lead again.
Two minutes later, Mpong rose to head in Kusi’s perfectly weighted cross from the right to restore Kotoko’s two-goal lead.
Kotoko will finish the month on a high and go into their FA Cup final against Medeama on 30 August after going four matches without defeat.