Substitute Kwame Opoku emerged the hero as his late strike secured a 1-0 victory for Asante Kotoko over Dreams FC in their Ghana Premier League encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday.

Kotoko head coach Abdul Karim Zito, facing his former club, showed clear intent to claim maximum points from the onset.

The Porcupine Warriors signalled their attacking ambition as early as the sixth minute when Walid Fuseini made a brilliant run down the left flank and cut inside before being impeded, with the ball eventually running out of play.

Dreams FC responded in the 14th minute with a dangerous attack, but goalkeeper Mohammed Camara was equal to the task, producing a fine save to keep the scoreline level. 

Three minutes later, Camara was again called into action after being caught off his line, but poor finishing from the visitors saw the effort finding the side netting.

Kotoko threatened on the half-hour mark when Inusah Adams skillfully dummied his marker before laying a pass to Morufing Donzo, who picked out Hubert Gyau. However, Gyau’s effort failed to trouble the Dreams goalkeeper as it sailed off target.

Tactical substitution

Coach Zito made a decisive change at the start of the second half, introducing Kwame Opoku for Donzo, a move that shifted the momentum firmly in Kotoko’s favour.

In the 55th minute, captain Samba O’Neil came close with a free-kick that narrowly missed the target.

Kotoko continued to press, with Lawson, Baba and Amoh introduced in place of Walid Fuseini, Seth Kwadwo and Peter Amidu to further bolster the attack. 

The sustained pressure eventually paid off ten minutes from time when Opoku stepped up to convert a free-kick, firing home the decisive goal to send the Baba Yara Stadium into celebration.

The win keeps Asante Kotoko’s title ambitions on track, while Dreams FC were left to rue their missed opportunities.