Kotoko win MTN FA Cup

The Kotoko team celebrating their eighth FA Cup triumph

Kumasi Asante Kotoko made history at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday after defeating Inter Allies 2-1 in the final of the 2013/2014 MTN FA Cup to complete their first-ever league and cup double.
The game was as close as the scoreline suggests, with Kotoko needing an opportunistic strike in the dying embers of the game as Seidu Bancey capitalised on a goalkeeping blunder in the 115th minute to score the match winner which secured them their eighth FA Cup trophy .
Kotoko opened the scoring in the eighth minute through winger Richard Mpong, who pounced on a weak header from Inter Allies defender, Stephen Owusu Ansah, and raced with the ball into the opponents’ half before firing an unstoppable shot past goalie Osei Kwame.
The Porcupine Warriors continued to dominate the exchanges in the first half with Allies content with occasional counter-attacking forays.
Allies returned a rejuvenated side in the second half and Coach Herbert Addo made his first substitution with Dauda Diop replacing centre-back Baba Mensah in the 50th minute.
The dominance of the league debutantes paid dividends when Talla Ndiaye levelled the tie with a sublime volley after a fortunate deflection in the penalty box.
Kotoko striker, Bancey, had a penalty appeal waved off by referee William Agbovi in the 69th minute before Allies replaced goal-scorer Ndiaye with Simon Martey in the 73rd minute as both sides ended normal time level.
In the first half of extra-time, Kotoko midfielder Michael Akuffo came close to scoring when his sublime free-kick rattled the crossbar after substitute Prince Baffoe was felled outside the penalty box.
Bancey’s 115th minute winner broke Allies’ hearts and sent Kotoko faithful into delirium when he reacted quickly to fire home after goalie Osei Kwame had parried a fierce drive from his Kotoko teammate Jordan Opoku.