Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 22 April 2002 - Obuasi Goldfields played an uncompromising game on Sunday to beat Kumasi Asante Kotoko 3-1 in their third week premier league match at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.
Kotoko, visiting Obuasi for the first time this season, failed to exhibit the stuff they put up against Santos of South Africa in their Africa Cup Winners Cup 3-3 drawn match in Cape Town last week. Kotoko kicked off amidst wild ovation from the stands where their red-and-white clad fans filled every available space.
Three minutes after referee Joseph Wellington signalled the teams into action, Kotoko’s Kwaku Duah called on keeper Abubakari Kankani in post for Goldfields to action after an effective combination with Stephen Oduro on the right. Let off the hook, nimble-footed Ofosu ‘Tico’ Amoah, operating from the outside right collected the ball, dribbled past two Kotoko defenders and hit the opener in the 15th minute from an acute angle to set the stadium alight.
Kotoko took up the challenge and rehearsed their tactical moves to win a cornerkick three minutes later. It was a little wonder, when Nana Arhin Durah connected Stephen Oduro’s freekick home for the equaliser in the 21st minute. The slightly built striker chested the ball, and exploring keeper Kankani’s off-the-line position superbly flicked it to his blind side to level up.
Goldfields’ skipper Kenneth Ababio had to be replaced early when he was stretchered off never to return from a clash with a Kotoko defender for Solomon Laryea to take his position in the 18th minute.
From the equaliser, the match looked balanced and was heading for an even first half when Frank Awuah shot the homesters again into the lead in the 43rd minute. On return from the break the Fabulous lads fought relentlessly to equalise with successive cornerkicks but their efforts were thwarted by Goldfields defencemen.
Kotoko sensing defeat brought on Joe Sam and Joe Otchere for Joe Louis and Kwaku Duah in the 65th and 72nd minutes respectively but the effect of the changes on the game was minimal. Goldfields mounted a last minute attack on the reds and succeeded in snatching a third goal in the 86th minute through substitute Seidu Dawuda. The defeat was the heaviest in the week.