GPLMD 2 Report: Asante Kotoko 0-0 Heart of Lions

Asante Kotoko were held to a goalless stalemate by Heart of Lions at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as the Porcupine Warriors’ bright start to the season suffered a minor setback on matchday four of the Ghana Premier League.

Karim Zito's men were buoyed by their impressive elimination of Nigeria’s Kwara United in the CAF Confederation Cup, and were looking to continue their momentum on the domestic front. However, the Kpando Lions, who have consistently proven to be a bogey side for Kotoko, once again proved a difficult opponent. Kotoko had failed to beat them in four previous meetings, and Sunday’s clash extended that unwanted run.

Beyond the opposition, Kotoko also had to contend with the pressure of breaking another jinx: winning their first home game of the season, something they had failed to achieve in the last three campaigns.

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The match kicked off under sweltering conditions, with the scorching Kumasi heat impacting the early tempo of the game. Referee Charles Bulu was forced to halt play in the 30th minute for a mandatory water break, allowing both sets of players to regroup.

Kotoko nearly broke the deadlock before halftime through Albert Amoah. The forward connected brilliantly to Lord Amoah’s delightful in-swinger, producing an audacious overhead kick that left the stadium on edge. Unfortunately for the home fans, his strike rattled the crossbar and bounced back into play, sparing the visitors.

Heart of Lions, meanwhile, showed great discipline at the back, frustrating Kotoko with their compact defensive lines and looking to hit on the counter when given the opportunity.

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Zito, who was celebrating his birthday, rang in the changes in the second half in pursuit of the perfect gift—a winning goal. Walid Neymar, Philip Amoh, Patrick Asiedu, and Seth Kwadwo were all introduced for Joseph Amoah, Morifing Donzo, Emmanuel Antwi, and Peter Amidu.

The substitutes injected more urgency into Kotoko’s play, with Neymar causing problems on the flanks, but the all-important breakthrough continued to elude them. Lions remained resolute, closing down spaces and denying Kotoko’s attackers clear chances at goal and had to settle for a point. 

The result leaves Kotoko on four points after two games, with our warriors hosting Bibiani Goldstars on Wednesday evening at the Baba Yara Stadium, where they will aim to finally secure their first home win of the season.