Asante Kotoko and CARA Brazzaville combined to miss four penalties during their preliminary-round CAF Confederation Cup clash on Sunday, before the Ghanaian giants converted a fifth of the game later on to take a 1-0 win.
Kotoko missed a remarkable three spot kicks – all taken by different players – during the 90 minutes, while the Congolese heavyweights missed one of their own late on.
CARA had a troubled build-up to the bout after failing to make their connection to Kumasi from Accra due to flight unavailability ahead of the fixture.
Saddick Adams missed from the spot in the sixth minute as the home side failed to capitalize on an early opportunity to take the lead following excellent pressure during the opening minutes of the contest.
It was a sign of things to come; Kwane Boahene cracked a shot against the crossbar just before the half-hour mark, and then won a penalty early in the second period, only for Amos Frimpong to fluff a second opportunity.
Baba Mahama missed a third spot kick late on, while Felix Annan in the Kotoko goal was strong to deny CARA – also from the penalty spot – after the Congolese side won a spot kick of their own – the fourth of the match.
Astonishingly, Kotoko received a final chance to end their penalty woe at the death, and substitute Yakubu Mohammed stepped up in the 90th minute to finally beat Chansel Massa with the Porcupines’ fourth spot kick of the game.
The Brazzaville-based side, who are currently second in the Congolese top flight, host Kotoko in the return leg on February 21 at the Stade Alphonse Massamba Debat.
Source: RiteSports
