Kumasi Asante Kotoko succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Kano Pillars despite a spirited performance and leading 2-1 at some point in the second half.

Kotoko paraded a strong side for the match with Danish coach Kjetil Zacchariassen settling for a robust line up which saw new recruit and centre back by trade Empem Dacosta playing as part of a defensive trio of Habib Mohamed and Samuel Ayiku with Evans Owusu playing at the left full back poistion and Samuel Frimpong operating from the right full back.

The Nigerians opened the score very early in the game and held on to half time going into the break the Porcupine warriors had other ideas as Justice Blay headed Kotoko level through a corner kick.

The 16,000 seater capacity crowd will soon go dead silent as winger Godfred Asiamah won a free kick just outside the home teams penalty area and expertly curled beyond the wall and the dive of goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso to give Kotoko a 2-1 advantage.

But Kotoko's creaky defence could not hold on tight as captain Rabiu Ali found the equalizer through a Cristiano Ronaldo like overhead kick to level the scores.

As if Kotoko were coming home with a respectable draw but the defence as generous as it were gifted the Nigerians the much needed winning goal to break the hearts of many Ghanaians who were anxiously waiting for a famous win for Kotoko with the worst case been a draw.

The Porcupine warriors will have to come home and fashion out a way to beat the Nigerians without conceding on the 23rd of August 2019.

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