We’re there!

Kotoko crash Ittihad to qualify for group stage

By: Jerome Otchere, Kumasi

Coach Johnson Smith has said that the current team has what it takes to conquer all opponents in the next stage of the Confederations Cup.

The coach who led the fabulous boys to an impressive 3-1 win over Al-Ittihad of Libya on Sunday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium told Kotoko Express in a post-match interview that the team ought to be maintained to win the ultimate prize in the competition.

He said the team has young, intelligent players who would perform excellently with time. The coach though admitted that there was more work to be done; he promised that the technical bench would continue to work hard to build a formidable side, capable of winning the title.

Johnson Smith also predicted that matches in the league stage would be more difficult.

“We played six matches before qualifying – three at home. Three away! In the next stage, we will play six matches too before the semi-final. I am sure these matches will be tougher. The coach however assured Kotoko fans that the technical bench would be up to the task.

“When we relax the players will not be serious. We will be on them to achieve results” he said. Two goals from Eric Bekoe and another from workaholic Jordan Opoku aided Kotoko to dismissed Ittihad whose performance improved significantly compared to the first leg match.

The atmosphere at the stadium was euphoric as Kotoko fans who had defied the morning and afternoon rains cheered the team right from the blast of Tunisian Referee Trabelsi Aduaz’s whistle. Francis Akwaffo dazzled the ecstatic crowd with his wonderful skills and nearly scored in the 2nd minute. Jordan Opoku and Nii Adjei were simply superb in midfield. They ran all over the pitch. They kept supplying Francis Akwaffo with the ball on the right flank and the intelligent winger terrorised his markers.

Ittihad however maintained their composure for the first five minutes of the game. When they could not bear the heat from Kotoko’s engine room, they crumbled under pressure. Striker Eric Bekoe beat the offside trap to open the scoring in the 7th minute. The fans’ reaction to the goal was extremely electrifying but not exactly so from the tempestuous Ittihad players who rushed onto Assistant Referee One, Meloulchi Yamen protesting vehemently.

Their protests were however ignored by the referee. Kotoko still looked the better side and for once, the defence revolving around George Asare, Osei Kwame Junior, Godfred Yeboah and Prince Anokye remained intact. The quartet constantly overpowered their opponents even in aerial tussles. Ittihad showed great promised in midfield but could not score in the first half.

Upon resumption, Kotoko searched for the second goal which came in the 61st minute through Jordan Opoku who beat goalkeeper Samir Abbud with a powerful grounder. Even with two goals down, Ittihad still looked organised. They dictated the pace in the middle and gave Kotoko some anxious moments. Kotoko’s search for more goals continued.

Stephen Oduro replaced Francis Akwaffo whereas Isaac Anderson took the place of Francis Coffie. Ittihad also conducted two substitutions to strength their attack. Although Soulama Abdoulaye made spectacular saves in the closing stages, substitute Pierre Koulibaly beat him with a powerful header in the 80th minute. That goal gave Ittihad a lifeline.

Kotoko needed to score another to keep the qualification dream on course. The supporters cheered the team on incessantly and with perseverance, Eric Bekoe beautifully converted a penalty in the 88th minute after an Ittihad defender handled the ball in the 18-yard box.

The die was then cast! When the Tunisian referee ended proceedings, Ittihad players rushed onto the referee. One of them hit a police officer and fled to the dressing room. The anger of the Ittihad players did not end there. They vented their spleen on the LG television set in the dressing room and crashed the screen with the studs of their boots. They also damaged electrical plugs and taps in the wash room.

Kotoko line-up: Soulama Abdoulaye, George Asare, Osei Kwame Junior, Godfred Yeboah, Prince Anokye, Nii Adjei, Francis Akwaffo/Stephen Oduro, Jordan Opoku, Eric Bekoe, Kwabena Yaro/Ofosu Amoah, Francis Coffie/Isaac Anderson.