Asante Kotoko had to dig deep to eliminate second-tier side Istanbul FC 3-2 at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the MTN Ghana FA Cup.
Substitute Abdul Aziz Yusif’s powerful header in the 86th minute handed Kotoko the win as both sides were tied 2-2.
It was Istanbul who shocked the home side with the opener on the half-hour mark when striker Felix Addo lobbed his first time ever over goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye who was off his line.
Ten minutes later, midfielder Aminu Mohammed latched on Stephen Oduro's incisive pass inside the box to tuck home the leveller.
After the break, Kotoko won a free-kick just outside the Istanbul area and Larbi Coomson curled it over the human wall to put them in front.
In the 74th minute, the visitors turned on the heat and captain Eric Agyei powerfully delivered a free-kick which went through the hands of goalkeeper Soulama to equalize.
Kotoko kept on pilling pressure and it paid with four minutes left on the clock when a nice passing move on the left led to Jospeh Ochaya sending in a cross which was headed in by Yusif for the match winner.