Asante Kotoko secured a slim advantage in the CAF Confederation Cup after edging Nigerian side Kwara United 4-3 in a pulsating first-leg preliminary round encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Porcupine Warriors began brightly and took the lead through Emmanuel Antwi, who finished emphatically from an Albert Amoah cross.
But defensive lapses allowed Johnmark Aule to restore parity for the visitors midway through the half.
Kotoko regained their advantage three minutes before the break when Albert Amoah volleyed home Patrick Asiedu’s teasing delivery.
Yet Kwara responded instantly, Aule completing his brace with a fine finish to send the tie into halftime at 2-2.
Just after the restart, defender Joseph Ablorh rose highest to head home from Amidu Acquah’s cross and restore Kotoko’s lead.
The home side looked to have put daylight between themselves and their opponents when Amoah converted a penalty after Walid Fuseini Neymar was fouled inside the area, making it 4-2.
Kwara, however, refused to back down and clawed one back in the 88th minute through Shola Abdulraheem, who reacted quickest to a rebound.
Kotoko pressed for a late insurance goal in stoppage time but were denied, leaving the tie delicately balanced ahead of the return leg in Ilorin next week.
The Ghanaian giants will need to sharpen their defence if they are to progress, as Kwara have shown enough quality to cause problems at home.
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