Kotoko Show Class

A clinical display of composed football, laced with two magical second half strikes from Kojo Poku yesterday fired Kumasi Asante Kotoko to a convincing 2-0 victory over Tema Youth at the ‘no seater’ Tema Sports Stadium yesterday. Yesterday’s 20th week premiership result snatched in an authoritative fashion, left the Kotoko contingent who turned out in their numbers, believing they have outgrown the domestic campaign. Tema Youth chief coach, Isaac ‘Opeele’ Boateng, was himself sobered by the Asanteman fire-power — just as when his charges slumped by the same scoreline in the first round clash. 'I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to say anything,' he told the Times Sports in a post-match interview when quizzed about the frailties of his tactics. Boateng’s game-plan was to pack the midfield, to soak the pressure and play on the break — but it hardly worked out though the intimidating frame of Kwabena Adugyei provided some inspiration to the home team. Truth is, the Youth were outclassed in midfield by intelligent Steven Oduro, Jordan Opoku and Nii Adjei, with the marauding runs of man-of-the-match Samuel Inkoom, down the left flanks, posing constant threats. In spite of Kotoko’s dominance, they failed to find the target in the first stanza with skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor (18th), Oduro (5th) Francis Coffie (24th) and Nii Adjei (33rd) taking turns to spooned off the profusion of opportunities that poured their way. The premiership leaders were nearly stunned into silence nine minutes from the break when Bernard Akuffo cleverly upstaged a scuzzy challenge from Richard Maanu in the area, created a space for himself, but lacked the self-belief to finish off. Perhaps, that was the inspiration the home team needed to psyche up for the second half as Ekow Benson and Akuffo found themselves in decent positions in the opening two minutes to cause damage. The warning signal was clear — and Kotoko would react with alacrity. Now appearing possessed, Poku clutched onto a dream pass from midfield, ghosted past Nana Yaw and Edward Poku at the left side of the Youth rear before chipping a cultured left foot beyond a stunned goalie Ernest Sowah. That 51st minute goal would easily fancy the most clueless observer without the slightest affinity for football. Kotoko were now in full glow after striking the initiative, exhibiting a show that drifted from a one-way traffic to a legalised torture. A series of intermittent attempts by Tema Youth to redeem the deficit was butchered by the exit of full-house defender Richard Annang in the 75th minute. Upshot of that numerical disadvantage was all-too predictable. The Youth were now worn to a frazzle until Poku soared above the Youth backline to head home his second goal from a Prince Anokye tailor-measured lob. The two-goal hero later walked off the pitch, swanking with ball that did the damage as gift from the Professional League Board (PLB).