The ever impressive Frank Mbella Etouga worked his magic on Saturday as Kumasi Asante Kotoko defeated new boys Accra Lions at the Baba Yara Stadium to end the first round of the Ghana Premier League in style.

He helped Asante Kotoko to a 3-1 win over Accra Lions to extend their slender lead at the top of the table over Bechem United who stumbled on Friday with a draw against Berekum Chelsea.

Kotoko had a bitter taste in their mouths headng into the game as they had lost their previous game 2-1 to bottom club Elmina Sharks and needed some redemption.

There was no place in the Kotoko line duo for influential duo George Mfegue and Mudasiru Salifu as they missed the game.

Kotoko started the game on the front foot and their resilience paid off as Frank Mbella put the reds in front in just the 5th minute of the game.

The reds added the second goal from the spot with Mbella atoning for his miss in Elmina by converting to make it 2-0 for Kotoko.

There was more drama as the Accra based side halved the deficit from the spot in added time of the first half with Kelvin Kyei converting to make it 2-1.

Kotoko headed into half time with a 2-1 lead but returned for the second half with much more venom as they pushed for the clincher.

The goal came very late in the game as Frank Mbella with seven minutes to end the game scored the third to complete a hattrick his second this season.

Kotoko now have a six points advantage over second placed Bechem United with 36 points whiles they have an outstanding game in hand against Hearts.

Cameroonian striker Frank Mbella Etouga has now scored 11 goals in 12 outings this season for Asante Kotoko and leads the goal king chart three more than second placed David Abagna of RTU.

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