Omanghana
Asante Kotoko secured their first victory of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season after defeating Heart of Lions 2-1 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Matchday Two.
Goals from Emmanuel Mamah and Isaac Opoku Agyemang gave the Porcupine Warriors a commanding advantage before Francis Odoom converted a late penalty for the visitors.
Contrary to some earlier accounts, it was Heart of Lions that finished the match with 10 players. Humaid Fuseini was sent off in the 77th minute, leaving the Kpando-based side numerically disadvantaged during the closing stages.
Kotoko entered the encounter determined to record their first league win of the campaign after collecting one point from their opening fixture. Playing in front of their home supporters, they applied pressure in search of an early breakthrough.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 27th minute when Mamah found the back of the net to give Kotoko a 1-0 lead. The goal allowed the home side to take control of proceedings and forced Heart of Lions to chase the game.
Kotoko maintained their narrow advantage until halftime, with the visitors unable to produce an equaliser before the interval.
The Porcupine Warriors continued to push for another goal after the restart, and their pressure paid off in the 63rd minute. Opoku Agyemang doubled the lead to place Kotoko in a stronger position to secure all three points.
Heart of Lions’ task became even more difficult in the 77th minute when Fuseini received a red card. His dismissal reduced the visitors to 10 men and appeared to leave Kotoko firmly in control of the contest.
Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage, Heart of Lions continued to fight and were handed an opportunity to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time.
Odoom converted the spot kick to make the score 2-1 and set up a tense conclusion. Kotoko, however, protected their lead during the remaining moments to seal an important home victory.
The result took Asante Kotoko to four points from their opening two matches of the new season, strengthening their early position in the league standings.
Beyond the three points, the victory ended Kotoko’s decade-long wait for a win against Heart of Lions. The Kpando side had proved a difficult opponent for the Porcupine Warriors over the years, making the Matchday Two result particularly significant for the Kumasi-based club.
Kotoko will now look to build on the victory and develop consistency as the campaign progresses, while Heart of Lions will aim to recover quickly from the defeat and address the disciplinary setback that affected their chances in Kumasi.
Source: Omanghana
