Asante Kotoko began their campaign on a bright note with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Berekum Chelsea on Saturday, ending a 15-year winless streak at the Golden City Park.
The Porcupine Warriors had not tasted victory away to Chelsea since 2010, but forward Albert Amoah made the difference on a tense afternoon.
His decisive strike came midway through the second half when he latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and drilled a low effort past goalkeeper Adu Emmanuel.
Kotoko’s resolute defending and disciplined shape frustrated Chelsea, who had been hoping to extend their dominance at home against the Reds. The hosts pushed for an equaliser late on, but poor finishing and a lack of cutting edge meant Kotoko held on to secure a crucial opening-day victory.
For coach Karim Zito and his charges, the win is more than just three points; it provides confidence and momentum ahead of their continental campaign. The Porcupines will face Nigeria’s Kwara United in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup on September 21.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will quickly regroup as they prepare for a tricky away fixture against newly-promoted Swedru All Blacks.
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