Porcupine Warriors sting Sharks

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s Player of the Month, Emmanuel Gyamfi, scored a crucial goal during time added on, to give his side a sweet 1-0 victory over premiership newcomers, Elimina Sharks, in the fifth week fixture at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi yesterday.

Kotoko had to wait to benefit from Referee Nathan Anafo's five minutes time added on to pick their second home victory in the league.

The defensive-minded Sharks were not exciting but they were tactical and resolute at the back to frustrate and cut off supply to arrowhead Yakubu Mohammed.

Kotoko's new formation of 3-5-2 hardly came under threat as the two times the visitors crossed the third half of the pitch in the first half was wasted.

Mohammed Farouk's 21st minute drive and a pile driver by skipper Obeng Daniel six minutes later hardly threatened goalkeeper Felix Annan in post for Kotoko.

In spite of Sharks’ resilience, Kotoko's Player of the month of February,  Emmanuel Gyamfi, should have broken the deadlock in the 27th minute but hit the ball off the cross bar with only goalkeeper Francis Arthur to beat.

Sharks’  coach Kobina Amissah varied his tactics at the start of the second half with long balls into the Kotoko's goal area perhaps to catch the back three of Abeiku Ainooson,  Ahmed Adams and Awudu Nafiu flatfooted.

 In their haste to find the net, Kotoko became impatient and confused in front of goal as the Elimina boys wasted more time and feigned injury with the least contact.

But Gyamfi who has become arguably the most valuable player of the squad rose to the occasion to atone for his earlier miss to fetch the match winner.

The ecstatic fans expressed their joy by showering  the demunitive player with money.