Asante Kotoko found a way to snatch a point at Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi after a rugged, Sunday afternoon sun-baked pitch produced a sterile 0–0 stalemate, a match about as entertaining as a match can be when both sides refuse to fall.
Kotoko, under Abdul Karim Zito, dominated play, particularly in the first half, but again lacked a cutting accuracy in front of goal. The Porcupine Warriors peppered the Samartex goal with shots, but time and again they sent efforts flying over the bar or into the gloves of Samartex keeper.
Samartex were not innocent in wastefulness either as they worked for openings and registered a decent number of shots, but the final product was missing. Their rising phases threatened on a few occasions, though their finishing lacked bite.
Kotoko’s most dangerous moments came from the left wings. Their left-side incursions caused the Samartex defence real problems. They tested the keeper with a few well-struck efforts, but nothing quite broke the deadlock.
Kotoko attempted to build their play through the wings, especially down the left. Their cross-field switches and overlapping fullbacks hunted vulnerabilities, but their forwards lacked composure in the box.
Samartex, knowing the importance of home points, stayed compact and tried to strike on transition, but their counterattacks rarely became truly dangerous.
The heat seemed to sap both sides sharpness. In a tactical sense, the game became more about survival than flair as it wore on.
For Kotoko, another draw, which is their third draw in four matches - underlines a growing concern, they can dominate possession and create, but they are not scoring. Zito will likely demand more cutting precision if Kotoko are to mount a serious challenge.
For Samartex, the point at home is something to build on. They sacrificed adventure for solidity, and it paid off in terms of not losing. They'll see this as a platform to push for more stability in the top half.
By: Pascal Amoah
