The Porcupine Warriors could not make it two wins in a row as they buckled up against Samatex in a friendly on Sunday
Asante Kotoko recorded a 2-2 stalemate in their last pre-season friendly against Division One side Samatex on Sunday in Samraboi.
After the 6-1 annihilation of Achiken FC in midweek, Maxwell Konadu’s charges failed to replicate that feat in the Western region.
Kwame Poku gave Kotoko the lead by the 18th minute after a quick counterattack football from the Porcupine Warriors but Samartex made it even four minutes later. The hosts’ striker Benjamin Yorke connected a pass from his teammate and fired past goalkeeper Kwame Baah.
Kotoko’s woes in the first half compounded on the 28th minute when Kwame Baah committed a penalty after he brought down a Samatex player. George Amonoo stepped up and sent the ball beyond the reach of Baah to put Samatex in front for the first time in the game.
After the break, Evans Adomako and Patrick Asmah came on for Augustine Okrah and Imoro Ibrahim respectively and that substitutions lifted Kotoko’s play in attack.
On the 58th minute, Kwame Poku calmly controlled a pass from a teammate and scored his second goal of the day to make it 2-2. The goal means that Poku has scored four goals within four days for Kotoko and six in all pre-season games.
Kwame Baah made a wonderful save by the 68th minute after coming one-on-one with a Samatex player to prevent Kotoko from recording their first defeat in pre-season.
They will open their Ghana Premier League campaign with a home game against Techiman Eleven Wonders before a trip to Golden City Park to face Berekum Chelsea.
Asante Kotoko XI vs. Samartex:
Kwame Baah (GK), Samuel Frimpong, Imoro Ibrahim, Mubarik Yussif, Wahab Adams, Kwame Adom Frimpong, Emmanuel Keyekeh, Latif Abdul Anabila, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Augustine Okrah, Kwame Opoku