Good evening and welcome to the Ghana Premier League week 14 fixture between Liberty Professionals and Asante Kotoko.
This is MTNFootball.com’s live text update coming to you live from the Accra Sports.
The hosts will be looking to extend their impressive start to the new year after thrashing Dwarfs 3-0 at the Robert Mensah Stadium in the last round.
The visitors on the other hand will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing goalless draw with Aduana Stars which now puts their lead on the Premier League log under real threat from rivals Hearts of Oak.
Referee Joe Baffoe will oversee this game, assisted by Michael Asare and Isaac Bassaw. Samuel Sukah serves as this afternoon’s fourth officials.
Kotoko come into this game a very much depleted side with several of their first team players missing out through injuries and suspensions.
Let’s see how the teams are lined up this afternoon:
Liberty: Razak Issa, Dan Gyamfi, Richard Antwi, Kingsley Nteng, Alfred Nelson, Yakubu Issa, Kennedy Ashia, Musa Foda, James Abban and Francis Morten.
Subs: David Addo, Michael Annan, Chris Nkansah, Ernerst Baffoe, Baba Gullit, Luqman Bright and Patrick Antwi.
Coach: J.E Sarpong.
Kotoko: Soulama Abdoulaye, Henry Ohene Brenya, Yaw Frimpong, Baba Abdul Rahman, John Kuffour, Michael Akuffo, Michael Anaba, Richard Yeboah, Kofi Nti Boakye, Nathaniel Asamoah, and Eric Donkor.
Subs: Sabato Mohammed, Osei Kofi, Amos Frimpong, Michael Mensah, Frank Boateng, Stephen Oduro and Isaac Amoako.
Coach: Maxwell Konadu.
Both teams are now out to do the pre-match warm-up to a virtually empty stadium.
The teams have been recalled to their respective locker rooms to finalize preparations for the game which is scheduled to kickoff at 18:30GMT.
Teams lined-up in the tunnel ready to make their way onto the pitch led by the match officials.
Liberty spotting their traditional all white jersey with sprinkle of stars all over while Kotoko are in their favourite all red apparell.
The two of the flood lights at the Accra Sports are off making visibility quiet difficult.
Referees have however given the go ahead so the game will go on nevertheless.
Players of the respective sides have taken their positions, Liberty to kick us off here.
1’ And we are underway Liberty with the early pressure.
2’ Free kick to Liberty right on the edge of the Kotoko penalty area but Morten drags his shot wide.
3’ Kotoko takes charge of the game and are now doing all the attacking but the Liberty defence remains resolute.
4’James Abban clutters into Akuffo and referee duly gives a free kick quickly taken by Anaba.
5’ Liberty struggling to get anything going as Nathaniel Asamoah is played through on goal, good save by Issain post to deny Kotoko the opener.
7’ Rahman goe son one of his solo runs but is brought down by Morten, free kick to Kotoko just inside the center circle.
8’ Abban is bundled over by Brenya in the box but referee waves play on and now Kotoko can break, ball played long but Asamoag is flagged offside to the dismay of the fans.
9’ Yaw Frimpong feeds Donkor but he loses to Ashia, not for long though as Kotoko regain possession.
10’ Free kick to Liberty right on the edge of the Kotoko penalty area taken, Soulama goes doen well to punch clear. Corner Liberty.
12’ Morten controls well with his chest of a long boot by Issa but the ball rolls out of play.
14’ Richard Yeboah clipped from behind as he tries to cut in and he is duly given the free kick about 20-yards from Liberty’s vital area.
15’ Kotoko trying to work the ball through but Kingsley Nteng and Richard Antwi are the major obstacles.
16’ Abban holds onto the ball well and releases Foda on his left but Kotoko takes possession, ball however turned over to Liberty.
17’ Referee awards an awkward infringement to Liberty.
18’ Ball floated to the far post but Soulama rushes out to punch clear.
19’ Neat backhill to release Foda he is one-on-one with Soulama but blasts wide!!!! What a chance spurned…!
20’ Both coaches out of the respective dugouts to give instructions to their players.
21’ Temporal hold up as a Kotoko player is being stretched off, not to clear who it is.
22’ Kotoko builds slowly from the back, ball fed into the over-lapping Frimpong he cuts in but he is fouled.
23’ Ball drives inside but no one was there to make the vital connection and Liberty can now clear the danger.
24’ Referee awards Liberty a free kick in a very promising area.
25’ Free kick totally wasted.
26’ Kotoko build yet another attack from the back at a very slow pace.
27’ Yaw Frimpong gets a cheeky free kick to get his side out of trouble.
28’ Kotoko have thoroughly controlled this game but have so far nothing to show for their dominance.
29’ Soulama launches a long goalkick straight to an opponent.
30’ Great skill and strength shown by Ashia to skip three challenges but his fails to make the telling pass to Abban.
31’ Liberty trying to get through with short passes but this tactic is clerly not effective.
32’ Akuffo spreads it wide to Anaba but his cross fails to reach Asamoah in the middle.
33’ Throw-in to Liberty quickly taken but the resulting cross by Nteng goes way off.
34’ Akuffo walking gingerly, seems to be suffering from a knock but he remains on the pitch.
35’ Ball crossed in with pace by Frimpong but Atwi heads clear.
36’ Meanwhile all the flood lights are now on, we can now enjoy our football.
37’ Big boot in by Soulama, Asamoah knocked down as he challenged for the ball, referee gives a free kick.
38’ Ohene Brenya will certainly be the first player to be booked in this game as he mistimed his sliding tackle on the slick Abban.
39’ Corner to Kotoko to be effected by Anaba. Ball cleared off the near post.
40’ Oherne brenya clutters into his own man, as he went in for an arial tackle.
44’ Free kick goes the way if Liberty quickly taken but attack comes to knot. Corner Liberty.
45’ Ball floated in but Soulama comes out to punch well clear.
45+1’ Yaw Frimong trying to shield the ball off Foda and ends up winning a goalkick for his team.
45+2’ Asamoah skios past his marker, centers to Kofi Nti Boakye for the tap in….Goooooooaaaal!!!!!!
45+3’ Nti Boakye makes n mistake from four yards out as he plants the ball firmly into the net to send the stadium agog.
45+4’ Referee ends tha first half, Kotoko obviously the happier side. Liberty will have to lift their game in the second if they are to get anything from this game.
We are back, players making their way onto the picth, Kotoko the first to emerge from the tunnel - perhaps a sign of things to come?
Liberty making a substitution: Musa Foda makes way for Bright Luqman.
45’ Kotko resumes us for the second half.
46’ Nti-Boakye goes on a urging run, crosses it in, Richard Yeboah twistsing and turning, he shoots, its in….Gooooooaaaal!!!!!!
47’ What a way to start the second half, Yeboah doubles Kotoko’s lead here at the Accra Sports Stadium and now Liberty will really have to come out to play to salvage at least a point.
48’ Corner to Liberty, taken by Francis Morten but neatly gathered by Soluama to draw some applause.
49’ Abban pokes the ball off Kuffour and crosses but no one there to apply the finish, Kotoko clear their lines.
50’ Yeboah taken to the sidelines to receive some medical treatment. He is back on.
51’ Soulama resumes play with a big boot upfront and here Liberty come.
52’ Ball fed through to Abban, great interception by John Kuffour to clear the danger.
54’ Liberty playing much better but unable to make meaningful strides in the Kotoko half.
55’ Amos Frimpong being brought on for Eric Donkor.
56’ Coach Sarpong even more animated on the touchline.
57’ Francis Morten tries a shot from deep, clearly the wrong option as the ball goes sky-high.
58’ Great skill by Nti-Boakye to beat his marker, he crosses in, Asamoah shot on the turn is deflected away but falls to Akuffo whose shot comes off the post, what a chance!!!!
59’ Kotoko looking more and more like the team to score the next goal even though Liberty are mounting some considerable amount of pressure.
some considerable amount of pressure.
60’ Play halted as John Kuffour is being treated on the pitch.
62’ Play resumes Kotoko on the charge but have been forced back by the Liberty defence who are in numbers.
64’ Ashia spreads the ball to his right to no one in particular.
65’ Abban lifts the bal lovely to the far post but Soulama races out to grab.
66’ Ricchard Yeboah is the latest player to fall on the turf and requires medical attention which he is getting now.
67’ Referee awards a foul to Kotoko for a trip on John Kuffour.
68’ Neat footwork by Nti-Boakye to shake off his marker but his cross fails to reach the intedned target as Nteng clears.
69’ Akuffo hits a very disappointing shot from 20-yards. Always rising.
70’ Kotoko substitution: Richard Yeboah being pulled out for Osei Kofi.
71’ Alfred Nekson dives into a challenge and concedes a free kick.
72’ Osei Kofi fails to keep the ball, his poor control infuriates the Kotoko fans.
73’ Liberty substitution: Ernest Baffoe coming on for Yakubu Issa.
74’ Baffoe’s first contribution is to give away a free kick and he is quiet lucky to escape a booking in my candid opinion.
75’ Francis Morten to take a free kick to Liberty, floats one in, a free header but Soulama grabs.
76’ Baba Gullit strikes one, deflected off and falls to Abban but John Kuffour forces his control and takes coolly from him.
78’ Coach Sarpong getting more and more frustrated on the touchline as his players struggle to get it together.
79’ Abban played through clean on goal but completely miscues his shot to the relief of the Kotoko defence.
80’ Kuffour dives into a tackle, a penalty shout but referee says no and I think it is the right call.
81’ Temporal hold up as Kofi Nti Boakye is being attended to by the Kotoko medical team.
82’ Morten trying to shake off his marker who is unwavering, he eventually hits a shot but straight inot Soulama’s arms.
83’ Referee awards a foul to Liberty Professionals about 15-yards off the Kotoko penalty area.
84’ Morten’s kick goes way wide.
85’ Kotoko substitution: Fand favourite Stephen Oduro coming on for Kofi Nti-Boakye.
87’ Well taken free kick by Morten but not good enough to beat Soulama who has been very impressive between the sticks for Kotoko this evening.
88’ Oduro sends one through to Asamoah but he is caught offside.
90+1' Kotoko heading for their first win away from the Baba Yara Stadium in this campaign.
90+2' Kotoko now towing with Liberty as the match grinds o the end.
90+3' A welcome goal kick for Kotoko and Soulama will take all the time to take this one.
90+4' Ball played in and hacked further in my Akuffo.
90+5' GOALLLLLLLLLLL. Penalty for Liberty and James Abban converts to pull one back.
90+6' It's all over, Kotoko have claimed all three points at the Accra Sports Stadium against Liberty Professionals.