Eric Donkor scored a last gasp free kick to hand Asante Kotoko the 2015 edition of the SIC-Nyemitei SWAG Cup on Sunday.
The match, at the Baba Yara Stadium, which had Asante king and life patron of Asante Kotoko, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, gracing the occasion as special guest of honour of the encounter between the porcupine warriors and league champions AshantiGold.
The first half was all spiced up by an all-action battle but was just denied of a goal.
Early in the second half, both coaches decided to tweak their sides with two substitutions each as they tried to vary tactics in search for that elusive opening goal.
Coach David Duncan who handed debut starts to four of his new signings decided to give respite to new boy Stephen Nyarko by replacing him with Bennett Ofori who is also a new signing. Striker Kwame Boateng who also arrived at Kotoko during the week also replaced Dauda Mohammed.
For AshGold, coach Bashir Hayford chose to replace Osei Baffour and Amos Addai with new signing Dauda Mohammed and youngster Paul Abeka respectively.
Both sides continued to fluff as many chances they created but as the game wore down, the Miners were forced into making a late substitution due to an injury to goalkeeper Robert Dabuo. He was subsequently replaced by Nana Bonsu.
But Bonsu, a known penalty save expert was denied his hopes of putting up a show of his dexterity as he conceded a goal from a free kick in the dying seconds of referee Prince Amoah’s 3 minutes additional time.
Fast-rising wing-back Eric Donkor beautifully planted in his free kick to hand Kotoko a 1-0 victory which secured the side their 14th win of the SWAG Cup – a feat which also sees head coach David Duncan going into the records as leading either clubs to winning the SWAG Cup twice. The last time Duncan won, he led AshGold to beat his current club.
Line-ups
Kotoko XI: Eric Ofori Antwi - Amos Frimpong, Edwin Tuffuor, Ahmed Adams, Richard Agyemang - Theophilus Nyame, Owusu Jackson, Stephen Nyarko/Bennett Ofori, Eric Donkor - Obed Owusu, Dauda Mohammed/Kwame Boateng
Unused subs: Felix Annan, Samuel Kyere, Evans Quao, Stephen Oduro, Michael Yeboah
AshantiGold XI: Robert Dabuo/Nana Bonsu - Augustine Sefa, Tijani Joshua, Kadri Mohammed, Awudu Nafiu - Eric Opoku, Alhassan Nuhu, Emmanuel Osei, Amos Addai/Paul Abrka - Emmanuel Osei Baffour/Dauda Mohammed, Fuseini Nuhu
Unused subs: Francis Adjei, Desmond Agbekpornu, Anthony Yerful, Isaac Afoakwa
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