Asante Kotoko SC were held at home by Al Hilal Omdurman to a 1-1 stalemate at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday which put a dent on their chances of making it to the quarter-finals.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Waleed Bakhiet Hamid’s header from an Abdellatif Boya cross beat Felix Annan.
The Porcupine Warriors came close to getting equalizer in the 37th minute but Songné Yacouba’s attempt went wide.
Emmanuel Gyamfi had the opportunity to level for the hosts when a begging chance fell his way but failed to connect four minutes from halftime.
The Fabulous lads nearly got the equalizer in the 60th minute when Abdul Fatawu Safiu saw his free-kick struck the crossbar.
Asante Kotoko finally pulled parity with four minutes to the end of the game after Yacouba headed home a Stephen Nyarko cross.
The Porcupine Warriors travel to Zambia to take on ZESCO United next week in their last group game.
GHANASoccernet.com brings you the player ratings in the big win over Al Hilal.
Felix Annan 6/10- Was not tested a lot but made a crucial diving save from Shaiboub Ali before Al Hilal’s opener from Waleed Hamid.
Amos Frimpong 6.5/10– Returned to the starting XI after missing the Nkana game through suspension. Frimpong was solid in defence but was caught off guard anytime he joined the attack.
Daniel Darkwa 7/10– Another impressive outing by the left back but became exhausted in the second half and had to be replaced by Stephen Nyarko. Darkwa did not also offer much in attack.
Emmanuel Agyeman Badu 6/10– Returned to the squad following a late injury to Ismail Ganiyu and despite being solid in defence. The 22 year-old’s aerial ability was called to question and that led to the team conceding the goal against Al Hilal.
Wahab Adams 7/10– Another calm performance from the big defender. Solid once again but miscommunication between him and Agyeman Badu led to Kotoko conceding at home.
Umar Bashiru 6/10– Confident in possession. Made the game simple but was out-shadowed any time Hilal were in possession.
Emmanuel Gyemfi 7/10– A threat when he is on the ball. Changed flanks a few times with Martin Antwi on the left but was very inefficient. Could have leveled immediately for Kotoko after going down but his effort went wide off the post.
Kwame Bonsu 5/10– Probably his worse game in a Kotoko shirt. Very absent in the game and had to be substituted for veteran midfielder Daniel Nii Adjei.
Sogne Yacouba 8/10– Best Kotoko player on the day. Very fearful in attack. Gave problems to the Hilal defence and grabbed the important eqaulizer in the 86th minute.
Abdul Shafiu Fatawu 5/10– Shafiu was another player missing in the game for the Porcupine Waarriors. Worked hard but could not just stamp his authority in the game.
Martin Antwi 6/10– Poor in defending and couldn’t offer any threat going forward. Could have provided an assist but his cross was whacked away by Gyemfi. Was the first to be replaced by Coach C.K Akunor. He did not return from the half and was replaced by Obed Owusu.
Substitutes:
Obed Owusu 6/10– Came on for Martin Antwi. Provided some form of defensive solidity to Asante Kotoko by complementing Daniel Darkwa on the left.
Daniel Nii Adjei 5/10- Came on to provide some still in midfield but could offer a little for the Reds.
Stephen Nyarko 4/10- Came on in the final minutes of the game. Didn’t offer much.
Source : GhanaSoccernet
