Asante Kotoko dropped points at home on Sunday afternoon after a 1-1 draw with Bechem United, allowing Bibiani GoldStars to draw level with them at the summit of the Ghana Premier League table.
The Porcupine Warriors had entered the clash with a narrow lead at the top and were expected to consolidate their position with a win at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. However, Bechem United had other ideas, holding their own throughout the contest and nearly walking away with all three points.
Kotoko were made to chase the game after Darlvin Yeboah broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, capping off a well-orchestrated move that stunned the home fans. With their title ambitions at stake, Kotoko pushed forward in search of an equaliser and were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a controversial penalty in the closing stages. Albert Amoah stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to restore parity.
The result extends Kotoko’s unbeaten run to seven matches, but the mood at full-time was far from celebratory. Players and head coach Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum were visibly frustrated, knowing they had let an opportunity slip in front of their home crowd. A win would have kept them clear of GoldStars, who edged Young Apostles 1-0 in Bibiani to go level on points.
Bechem United, who came into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats, executed their game plan effectively. Compact in defence and sharp on the counter, they nearly claimed all three points and can take confidence from a disciplined performance.
Kotoko will now turn their attention to a tricky trip to Accra Lions, where any further slip could dent their title hopes. Bechem, on the other hand, host GoldStars in a fixture that could tilt the title race further.
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