GPL Review: Asante Kotoko spank Gold Stars for five to keep title bid unblemished

League Leaders Asante Kotoko added more impetus to their title bid as they feasted on Gold Stars FC in Kumasi on Sunday.

The Porcupine Warriors welcomed their guests from Bibiani for this Match Week 20 encounter.

Prior to the game, Kotoko were on a 6-match winning run and set out to extend it against their opponent.

Gold Stars on the other hand, traveled as one of the weakest away sides in the league having picked just 2 points and losing 8 of their previous 10 games on the road.

Kotoko very much aware of their opponents’ weakness started the game with much peppiness.

The Porcupine Warriors took the lead after some poor goalkeeping from Gold Stars’ Ernest Kusi. The goalie failed to claim a cross into the box and Kotoko profited from his fumble.

Striker Mfegue Omgba pounced to punish Kusi to give Kotoko the lead inside 32 minutes.

3 minutes later, the Cameroonian added his second to double his side’s lead. After some neat work from strike partner Franck Mbella Etouga, Mfegue was put through on goal and he cleverly lobbed the ball over the onrushing Kusi for Gold Stars.

Kotoko thus went into the break with a 2 goal lead leaving the away side with a tall mountain to climb.

That never looked like happening though as after recess, the home side added 3 more goals to complete the routing.

Augustine Agyapong made it 3 after 59 minutes, Franck Mbella converted from the spot to increase the tally with 10 minutes remaining and the final nail on the coffin for Gold Stars came when Samuel Boateng made it five after 86 minutes.

Certainly there was no way back for the away team who looked well beaten by the rains and also by their opponents.

Following the result, Asante Kotoko still maintain a healthy 8 point lead over secon-placed Aduana Stars on the league log.

With 14 games to go, there is still much to play for but Coach Prosper Narteh-Ogum looks well on course to winning his first major title with the Porcupine Warr of they keep their current pace.

For Gold Stars, it was a night to forget for them as they left Baba Yara empty handed. They now lie 13th on the table on 23 points. They are just 2 points above the relegation zone.