Kumasi Asante Kotoko failed to record their first win at their adopted Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi after sharing the spoils with newly promoted Young Apostles in their match week three fixture of the Ghana Premier League.
The visitors stole the lead against the run of play just after recess, forcing Kotoko to fight back to salvage a point from a losing position.
With their fans almost filling the stadium to capacity, the expectation was that the Porcupine Warriors would run over the debutants, but they had to come from behind to rescue a point.
Kotoko hit the ground running with a quick incursion into the goal area of their opponents, winning a free kick in a dangerous position within the first minute, but failed to make good use of the opportunity as Joseph Abloh headed wide a cross from Baba Yahaya.
The Porcupines continued to dominate early exchanges and was unlucky not to have taken the lead on the seventh minute when Abloh’s thunderbolt from 35 yards missed target narrowly.
It was, however, the visitors who hit the first shot on target after a quarter of an hour when Hussein Issah dashed behind his markers to receive a long ball from midfield, but his feeble effort was gathered by Mohammed Kamara who had been on holiday until that attack.
At was all Kotoko after the 20th as the home side exhibited eye-pleasing football to the admiration of the teeming home fans in the stands who could not help but applaud the team.
With a non-stop “jama” from the vociferous Porcupine Tertiary group, the “Fabulous Boys” probed for the opener but the visitors would not yield to the pressure.
Referee Daniel Laryea ended the first half as both teams failed to find the back of the net.
Young Apostles broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half through Daniel Lomotey who received a defence-splitting pass in the box before placing it beyond Kamara.
As Kotoko fought back in their quest to restore parity, the visitors capitalised on spaces left behind and almost doubled their lead on the 60th minute.
Coach Prosper Nartey Ogum brought on Dauda Saaka for Yahaya as he raced against time to save the situation.
Their push for the equalizer yielded results on the 75th minute when Emmanuel Antwi score a spectacular goal to bring his side on level terms.
The former Great Olympics midfielder unleashed a ferocious strike from 40 yards which caught the goalkeeper unawares.
Asante Kotoko increased the intensity of their play following the equaliser as they sought to take the lead against a side obviously satisfied with a point away from home.
The visitors virtually packed the bus, making it extremely difficult for Kotoko to break down their backline in the dying embers of the match.
They held on to secure a crucial point on the road, denying the Porcupines their first win at their adopted home grounds.
GNA