

05.04.2004 Football News

Kotoko and Faisal draw in a friendly encounter

Listen to article

Kumasi, April 5, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko and city rivals, King Faisal settled for a goalless drawn game in a friendly match played at the Kumasi Sports stadium on Sunday.

Both teams are preparing for their continental assignments with Kotoko billed to play Asec Mimosa of Cote D'Ivoire in the African Champions league in Abidjan on April 11 while Faisal also meet Power Dynamos in a Confederation Cup match in Harare, Zimbabwe next week.

The two teams went into action with all seriousness but it was Kotoko who threatened for the leader in the fifth minute, but Mohammed Suraju in goal saved Charles Taylor's brilliant attempt at goal for Faisal. Faisal quickly organised themselves and when they gradually warmed themselves into the game they had a clear chance in the ninth minute to find the opener but strongly built Owusu Ampoma failed to find the net.

Faisal continued to pile more pressure on Kotoko and in the 13th minute, another chance fell the way of Owusu Ampoma when he came face to face with goalkeeper Alhassan Mohammed of Kotoko but fumbled with the ball and injured himself in the process.

Charles Taylor also missed a chance in the 27th minute when his terrific shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

In the 30th minute, Kotoko's goalie Mohammed Alhassan injured himself in an attempt to save Joe Agyeman's terrific shot three minutes later. It was a day of near misses, as Kotoko who had another chance in the 34th minute to score saw Kwame Adzagba's goal bound shot being headed into play by William Tierro in a goalmouth scramble.

Determined to find the leader, Kotoko continued to pile on pressure and when in the 42nd minute a chance came their way, Moses Tetteh shot wide from a Charles Taylor's rebound.

Both teams on resumption, made some substitutions but the pattern of the play remained the same until full time.