A 86th minute stunning free-kick from Augustine Agyapong aided the Porcupine Warriors to bounce back to winning ways in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season.
Asante Kotoko came from behind to record a 2-1 home win over Premier League newbies Samartex FC in their Ghana Premier League match-week five encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Porcupine Warriors enjoyed majority of the game possession but they failed to find the back of the net with the numerous chances created in the first half.
Defender Yussif Mubarik came close to open the score for the home side with a header but he was denied by goalkeeper Richard Baidoo on the 14th minute. A minute later, Baidoo made another brilliant save to deny Steven Mukwala from netting his second goal of the season for Asante Kotoko.
The first chance of Samartex FC fell for Prince Antwi but he couldn't make it count as Asante Kotoko continued to pile up pressure on the visitors for the opener.
The back line of Samartex FC had a lot of defending duties in the early minutes as strikes from Richard Boadu and Justice Blay were blocked by Godwin Abusah.
Ugandan international Steven Mukwala was denied by the post after slotting in a low-cross delivered by Isaac Oppong on the 22nd minute of the game.
Goalkeeper Richard Baidoo was the topmost player for Samartex FC in the first half as he made some magnificent saves to deny the hosts from getting the opener. He rescued Samartex FC from conceding before the break as an audacious strike from Isaac Oppong was fisted out on the 31st minute of the game.
The last golden opportunity for Asante Kotoko fell for Augustine Agyapong on the stroke of halftime but he fumbled in the 18-yard box for Baidoo to claim it.
The first half of the game ended in a scoreless draw.
After the break, Samartex FC warmed themselves into the game with stage an intense pressure on homesters to open the score after three minutes.
On the 48th minute, Prince Antwi brilliantly opened the score for Samartex FC with a powerful drive after a solo run past two Asante Kotoko defenders.
Coach Seydou Zerbo made a tactical substitution with the introduction of Eric Serge Zeze, Dickson Afoakwa and Richmond Lamptey as replacements for Ernest Osei Poku, Isaac Oppong and Richard Lamptey respectively.
The introduction of the trio aided Asante Kotoko to gain possession once again to mount pressure on the visitors with hopes of getting the leveller before the hour-mark but none of their efforts earned them a goal.
Midfielder Justice Blay came close with a header but his effort missed the post by a whisker. Afoakwa made a quick solo run on the 57th minute but his strike was blocked by the backline of Samartex FC.
The impressive performance of Asante Kotoko paid off when Nicholas Mensah calmly slotted in a rebound from a free-kick effected by Steven Mukwala on the 78th minute of the game.
The Porcupine Warriors continued to launch fearsome attacks on the backline of Samartex FC as they were in search for the match-winner before the final whistle.
Ghana U20 right-back Augustine Agyapong snatched all the needed points for Asante Kotoko with a spectacular free-kick on the 86th minute of the game.
Agyapong brilliantly registered his first goal of the season from a free-kick awarded to the Porcupine Warriors when Lamptey was fouled on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Asante Kotoko have recorded three victories in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season so far, leaving them third on the log with 10 points after five matches.
