Asante Kotoko SC faced off against Nsoatreman in a tightly contested league match at the Len Clay Stadium on 2nd October 2024, with the home side emerging victorious by a scoreline of 1-0. The match, which kicked off at 3:00 pm, saw a crowd of 10,000 fans in attendance, all eager to witness their team in action.
Asante Kotoko adopted a 4-1-3-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Fredrick Asare donned the gloves as the goalkeeper, shielded by a back four comprising Lord Amoah on the right, Patrick Asiedu on the left, and the central defensive partnership of Justice Blay and Joseph Ablorh. In front of the defence, Andrews Ntim Manu operated as a central midfielder, tasked with breaking up opposition play and facilitating transitions. The attacking midfield trio featured Saaka Dauda on the right, Emmanuel Antwi in the centre, and Peter Amidu Acquah on the left, with the duo of Elvis Kyei Baffour and Albert Amoah leading the line as forwards.
The substitutes for the match included Wisdom Fernando, Michael Kyei Dwamena, and Solomon Kwaku Sah, providing depth and tactical options for the home side.
The match began with both teams probing for weaknesses, but it was Asante Kotoko who made the decisive impact just after the interval. In the 48th minute, following a well-placed cross from Saaka Dauda, an unfortunate own goal from a Nsoatreman defender handed the home side a crucial lead. The header, intended to clear the danger, instead found the back of the net, sending the home fans into raptures.
As the match progressed, tensions began to rise, culminating in a yellow card for Saaka Dauda just before half-time in the 44th minute, a decision that would loom large as the game wore on.
In the 66th minute, Asante Kotoko made a tactical substitution, bringing on Wisdom Fernando for Peter Amidu Acquah, followed closely by Michael Kyei Dwamena replacing Elvis Kyei Baffour. These changes were aimed at maintaining the momentum and ensuring fresh legs in the midfield and attacking areas.
However, the match took a turn for the worse for Kotoko when Michael Kyei Dwamena received a yellow card in the 76th minute, adding to the growing list of cautions. Just three minutes later, in the 79th minute, the referee Rustum Senorgbe was forced to brandish a red card, sending off a Nsoatreman player for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, which added to the drama of the encounter.
As the match neared its conclusion, Asante Kotoko made their final substitution in the 94th minute, with Solomon Kwaku Sah coming on for Emmanuel Antwi, a move aimed at shoring up the midfield as they sought to protect their slender lead.
Despite the late pressure from Nsoatreman, Asante Kotoko held firm, with Patrick Asiedu earning accolades for his performance, ultimately being named Player of the Match. The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought victory for the home side, who will take great confidence from this result as they continue their campaign in the league.
