Bechem United edge out Kotoko in Kumasi

Kotoko who had seen off their opponents twice on penalties to reach this stage were halted through the same exercise by Bechem United.

Dauda Mohammed, the leading marksman of Kotoko was the villain of the day as he missed from the spot kick during regulation time and again missed his kick during the penalty shootout to aid Bechem United to progress to the last 4.

During the shootout Amos Frimpong, Kwadwo Poku and Dauda Mohammed missed the 1st, 4th and 5th kicks respectively for the Porcupine Warriors, while Evan Quao and Emmanuel Osei scored theirs.

Yaw Arnol beat the offside trap set by the Kotoko defence to slot home the opener in the 7th minute. Kotoko kept the Bechem United goal area busy, but their defence were resolute to protect their goal area.

The Porcupine Warriors continued to mount pressure on Bechem United after the half time break and it paid off when Bennett Ofori finished off from the rebound after the goalkeeper Prince Asempa had saved Frank Sarfo Gyamfi’s shot in the 55 minute.

The hosts, following the equaliser kept on dominating the game and intensified their search for the match winner and in the course of that were awarded a penalty for a hand ball in the Bechem United’s 18-yard box.

Dauda Mohammed, who volunteered to take the kick missed from the spot to give the visitors a big sigh of relief in the 76th minute.

The game failed to produce any more goals. The referee ushered the two sides into addition 30 minutes of extra time to determine who carry the day, but the 30 minutes of the exchanges couldn’t produce the match winner, hence the tie breaking exercise of penalty shootout was evoked.

At Okwawu, the home side Okwawu United also eliminated West African Football Academy (WAFA) on penalties on Sunday to reach the final 4.