Accra, GNA - Uncrowned Premier League champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko confirmed their superiority over Kpando Heart of Lions when they beat them 5-2 on penalties to lift the 2008 edition of the President's Cup on Tuesday at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium.
The Kpando lads put up a spirited performance but at the end had to succumb to after both sides settled for a two all drawn game after regulation time.
Kotoko were cruising to a 2-1 victory in an uncompromising game that saw Lions' finish with a man less after defender Godfred Rockson was sent off in the first half only for substitute Stephen Owusu to strike home the equalizer from the spot in added time.
The victory, the third for Kotoko over the Kpando Lions this season also saw them lift the President's Cup for a record third time.
Lions' after displaying much power in the closing stages of the game rather displayed a contrary output during the spot kicks with the trio of Owusu, Abraham Annan and Isaac Morgan all blasting wide while Daniel Acquah, Daniel Nii Agyei and Eric Bekoe converted for Kotoko.
Kotoko's hardworking right back, Samuel Inkoom however saw his kick saved by Lions goalie Stephen Ahorlu but the dent was too little to tilt the tie in his side's favour as they went ahead to ensure a hard fought victory.
Watched by a sizable crowd which included, Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama who stood in for President John Agyekum Kufuor who is on official duty in Egypt, it was the "Porcupine Warriors who made clear their intentions of carrying the day with constant raids into the Lions' half which appeared weakened by the absence of captain Jerry Akaminko.
Yet it was Lions who created the first attempt at goal on eight minutes but midfielder Edmund Owusu Ansah blasted wide after Dominic Adiyiah, who was voted the Most Valuable Player of the day had put him through.
Kotoko's young midfielder Mark Sekyere defied his diminutive figure to lead several incursions into the opponents half but strikers Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and Kwabena Yaro made a mess of those opportunities.
Twice in the 34th and 42nd minutes, Kuffour failed to connect home with only goalkeeper Ahorlu to beat on both occasions while Yaro wasted the glorious of opportunities on the stroke of half time after he was fed beautifully by Nii Agyei.
Yaro, instead of going for power decided to round off Ahorlu but the latter recovered quickly to grab the ball of the striker's feet.
Prior to that Lions' had been dealt a major blow on the 23rd minute after Rockson was given the marching off orders by referee Alex Kotey for bringing down Yaro outside his penalty area.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Lions' matched Kotoko boot for boot but were was unlucky to have taken the lead five minutes past the half hour mark after Daniel Acquaye's thunderbolt was dealt with by goalkeeper Eric Nii Baah.
Kotoko resumed strongly and Kuffour nearly atoned for his earlier misses after just twenty seven seconds but his half volley missed target by inches.
Few seconds later, Jordan Opoku set the stadium alive with the opener for Kotoko by connecting a rebound from a goal-mouth action, but the joy was cut shot a minute later, with Adiyiah drawing parity with a lob from Owusu-Ansah's initial effort to silence the vociferous supporters of Kotoko.
Kotoko introduced Kojo Poku for Yaro, but it was Sephen Oduro's replacement for Opoku in the 76th minute that did the trick for them.
The introduction of Oduro brought more pressure to bear on the Lions defence and succeeded in giving them the lead once again after just a minute as Bekoe connected home from a goal mouth action after Kuffour's goal-bound shot had been blocked by John Boye.
Lions leveled up through substitute Owusu on the stroke of full time but all their efforts in came in vane after they failed to convert any of their kicks during the penalty shoot out with Kotoko converting three of theirs.
Vice-President Aliu Mahama presented the trophy to Kotoko's captain Kuffour amidst cheers from his colleagues and their teeming fans.
GNA