Asante Kotoko scored three second half goals to beat AshantiGold SC 3-1 on Match Day 12 of the Ghana Premier League at the Baba Yara sports stadium on Sunday.
The Ashanti derby saw the fabulous pit their struggling Regional rivals in a game that produced four goals after the first half ended goaless.
Asante Kotoko came into the game motivated following their 2-0 win over Aduana FC last weekend while AshantiGold SC needed a win to end their 4-match winless run.
A second half hattrick from Cameroonian import, Frank Etouga Mbella, was enough to ensure that the porcupine warriors won the bragging right convincingly to move to the top of the league table.
The goals were scored on the 55th, 67th and 73rd minutes respectively to complete a remarkable performance for the Cameroonian international and to extend his goal tally to six on the top scorers chat.
With six minutes to end proceedings, substitute Elijah Addai pulled one back for the Miners who extended their winless streak to five matches.
The win takes Asante Kotoko to the top of the league table with 26 points, three points ahead of second placed Aduana FC who beat Elmina Sharks 1-0 at the Nduom stadium.
A 24th minutes strike from Bright Adjei gave the Ogya boys a vital win on the wake of their 2-0 lost at home to league leaders Kotoko.
At Techiman, third place team, Kumasi base King Faisal fell to Eleven Wonders at the Ohene Ameyaw Park at Techiman.
A second half brace from Ibrahim Laar humbled the Issah Allah boys to a 2-0 score line.
Elsewhere at Eastern Region in Dawu, Dreams FC tasted their first lost at the theatre of Dreams this season after Obuor Adu had scored the match winner five minutes after the break to give Legon Cities an important away win.
Meanwhile, Huzaif Ali missed a penalty for the Still Believe boys to enable the Royals record their second away win of the season.
Emmanuel Annor and ex-Kotoko forward Augustine Okrah, were on the score sheet at the Nana Fosu Gyeabuor Park where Bechem United dispatched Real Tamale United 2-0 to maintain their top four ambitions.
Accra Great Olympics were denied all three points following Karela United’s Emmanuel Owusu Boakye 86th minute equalizer to cancel Raymond Oko Grippman 66 minutes goal at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Meanwhile on Saturday, January 8, 2022, defending league champions Accra Hearts of Oak set the DUN’S Park alive with a 1-0 away win over Bibiani Gold Stars.
James Sewornu scored the only goal and made sure he led the defensive line to protect the only goal scored in the first half to secure all three points.
Also, Accra Lions drew goalless with WAFA at the Accra Sports stadium on Saturday.
Earlier on Friday at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa, Berekum Chelsea frustrated Medeama SC with a 1-1 stalemate.
Midfielder Kwesi Donsu rescued the day for the mauves and yellows side with a nice header after Mohammed Alhassan had put the blues infront.
