Songne Yacouba repeated his trademark spectacle on Sunday as he inspired Kotoko to a 3-0 victory against Berekum Chelsea at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
The win comes a week after the Porcupines were robbed into their first defeat in the off-season in a 3-2 loss to Ashgold at Obuasi.
It also follows remarkable 1-1 draw against Simba FC in Tanzania, back-to-back 2-0 wins over Hearts of Oak; the first of which Yacouba scored a brace, before a brace in a 3-2 win over Ashgold in Kumasi and a goal against the Miners in the 3-2 loss in the return game.
The Burkinabe import has been on form for Kotoko since his arrival this year, and scored his eleventh goal in thirteen appearances in all competitions for Kotoko as Assistant Coach, Akakpo Patron fine-tuned his tactics in a friendly match against the Brong Ahafo giants in Kumasi.
Kwame Boahene opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a nice connection to Jordan Opoku’s corner kick to grace the Porcupines’ commanding performance in the first quarter of an hour. The goal was the midfielder’s second all-time goal for Kotoko since his arrival from Medeama in 2016.
Kotoko did not lift their foot off the accelerating pedal, and Chelsea were lucky to close to the first half with just a goal deficit as Richard Senanu, Prince Acquah and Jordan Opoku all came close to scoring but missed.
Yacouba Songne extended the lead in the 63rd minute by capitalising on a loose marking to latch into Prince Acquah’s through pass to place the ball over the onrushing Emmanuel Asamoah into the bottom corner of the right post.
Yacouba completed the rout in the 75th minute with a simple tap-in from inside the six-yard-box when Zakaria Fuseini put the ball into his path in haste to clear his lines after Jordan Opoku’s corner kick.
The visitors had the opportunity to pull one back in the 90th minute when referee Charles Bulu awarded a penalty two minutes into injury time after Augustine Sefah’s foul on Augustine Henneh inside the dean, but Felix Annan showed why he is the best goalkeeper in the local scene currently when he dived to save Henneh’s kick from heading into the bottom corner of the right post.
Kotoko Lineup:
Felix Annan, Amos Frimpong, Augustine Sefah, Wahab Adams, Agyeman Badu, Richard Senanu, Prince Acquah/Douglas Owusu Ansah, Jordan Opoku, Kwame Boahene/Osman Ibrahim, Obed Owusu/Frederick Boateng, Yacouba Songne
Unused bench: Ibrahim Danlad, Samuel Frimpong, Emmanuel Owusu, Sylla Vie Mohammed
Berekum Chelsea Line-up:
Emmanuel Asamoah, Braimah Mohammed, Zakaria Fuseini, Benjamin Abaidoo/Antwi Amoako, Collins Ameyaw, Augustine Henneh, Stephen Amankona, Alhassan Mohammed/Francis Debrah, Charles Kwarema
Unused bench:
Jonathan Attuquaye, Benjamin Prah, Solomon Obilitey, Kelvin Ishmael Mensah, Samuel Adjei.
Report by Asanstekosc.com
