<<Print>>

Kumasi Asante Kotoko crushed out of the Orange CAF Champions League after losing 2-4 on penalties to Senegalese debutants ASC Linguere on Sunday at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra. The Porcupine Warriors who entered the game with high expectations managed to score two goals from Kabiru Moro and goalkeeper Isaac Amoako to tie up the game to two but could not the killer goal when it mattered most and saw the game pushed to penalties, which the Senegalese proved their worth to cruise on to the next stage. It was the second time in succession that the Porcupine Warriors have been edged out of the first hurdle of the premier continental club championship by a debutant team. Kotoko who needed two goals to annul the 0-2 loss from the first leg a fortnight ago in Dakar, the home team started on a high note giving strong indication of their thirst to carry the day but over elaboration and erratic shooting was their bane when it mattered most. Backed by an expectant large crowd that filled more than two-thirds of the stadium, chanting any time Kotoko had the ball, it would have only been appropriate if the team had turned their dominance into goals. Despite the dominance of the Porcupine Warriors, the Senegalese debutants almost caused a stir on 12 minutes when Moussa Dembele's effort following a swift counter that kissed the crossbar with Kotoko goalie Amoako completely beaten. It was Kotoko all the way as the midfield duo of Haruna Ganiyu and Frank Boateng led several raids upfront but lateral midfielders Samad Oppong and Edward Afum failed to supply the lone striker Kabiru with the needed passes. After several missed opportunities, Kotoko got the breakthrough on 33 minutes through Moro, who headed in from Oppong's cross from the right that the busy keeper failed to grab solidly. Six minutes on, the ASC Linguere goalie Khadir Ndiaye scored full marks with a reflex save from Oppong's long drive. Charged on by their fans, Kotoko resumed the second half strongly and two minutes into the half, they were gifted a penalty after Afum was fouled in the penalty area by Jamba Gueye. Gueye was cautioned and given the marching off orders few minutes later for dissent for keeper Amoako to score from the spot to keep the two leg tie at 2-2. Jordan Opoku and Kwadwo Poku were introduced for Ganiyu and Oppong and though their presence added more bite to the attack, the winning goal remained elusive as they strikers lacked ideas make the final decision of pushing the ball into the net. With their numerical disadvantage, it was visitors goalie Ndiaye who stood between Kotoko and goal with superlative saves in the 71st, 73rd and a clean save of a last gasp free-kick from Daniel Nii Adjei on added on time just outside the box. During the penalty shoot-out, keeper Amoako had his effort saved, whilst Ofosu Appiah's kick flew past goal, before Francis Coffie and Gideon Baah scored for Kotoko but it was then too late. Papa Jamba Ndiaye, Mbaye Thiam, Seriguie Samba and Ndiaye scored for the Senegalese debutants, as they cruised on to the last 32 of the premier continental club championship. The exit of Kotoko leaves Ghana with no representative in this season's CAF Club competitions, as they were the only team that entered the competition.