FootyDream

Asante Kotoko have ended their preseason training tour in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

The Reds drew 1-1 in their last training game with Laliga Academy at the Dubai Sports City on Thursday night.

The Porcupines were playing their third game in the Gulf country after losing 1-0 to Al Hilal United in the first game a week ago and drawing 1-1 with Liwa FC.

Prosper Narteh’s men dominated in most part of the game and had opened the scoring after recess through captain of the night, Mudasiru Salifu who beautifully converted a penalty after Christopher Nettey’s cross was blocked by the home team’s player.

Kotoko were unlucky upfront with the few chances created in both halves of the game.

The Porcupines could not hold on to their solitary lead as LaLiga Academy equalized few minutes to end the game from the spot after goalkeeper Kwame Baah fouled the hosts player in the 18-yard to end their fourteen-day training tour with a draw.

Asante Kotoko who are preparing for the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season scheduled to commence on October 29 will leave the Gulf country on Friday to Ghana.

The Porcupines will start their season’s campaign with trip to Dawu to battle out with Dreams FC in match-day one of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League.

Kotoko lline-up:

22 Kwame Baah 23. Nettey Christopher 21. Patrick Asmah 4. Yussif Mubarik 25. Maxwell Agyemang 3. Mudasiru Salifu 18. Lamptey Richmond 10. Fabio Gama 29. Stephen Amankona 2. Joseph Amoako 26. Isaac Oppong

Substitutes

1. Abalora Razak 24. Samuel Appiah 15. Appau Andrews 20. Richard Boadu 6. Emmanuel Keyekeh 14. Sherif Mohammed 17. Clinton Opoku 21. Kumi Francis 11. Frank Thierry 7. Georges Mefegue

-Myjoyonline

Cristiano Ronaldo headed the winner nine minutes from time as Manchester United came back from two goals down to record a memorable Champions League triumph against Atalanta at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had been booed off at the break, such was the lack of invention they showed in falling behind to goals from Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral.

But the jeers turned to cheers as United, roared on by an increasingly frenzied crowd, rallied to complete one of their great European victories.

Marcus Rashford reduced the deficit with an excellent finish eight minutes after the restart before skipper Harry Maguire drove home after being left free at the far post to get on the end of Edinson Cavani’s flick.

But, inevitably, it was Ronaldo who won the game, just as he did three weeks previously against Villarreal.

This time it was with one of his trademark headers as he rose to meet Luke Shaw’s cross and find the bottom corner to send United to the top of Group F.

Chelsea put their Champions League campaign back on course by thrashing Malmo at Stamford Bridge – but it was victory at a price as strike duo Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner suffered injuries.

The holders lost their last game against Juventus in Turin but there was no mistake here as the Swedes were completely outclassed.

Andreas Christensen put Chelsea ahead early on with his first goal in 137 appearances for the club from Thiago Silva’s pass and Jorginho doubled the lead from the spot after Lukaku was fouled by Lasse Nielsen, the forward limping off with what looked like an ankle injury.

Werner pulled up with hamstring trouble before half-time, but Chelsea’s progress continued smoothly as his replacement Callum Hudson-Odoi set up another substitute Kai Havertz for a neat finish for their third just after the break.

Malmo were over-powered and Jorginho scored from the spot again after 57 minutes following Eric Larsson’s foul on Antonio Rudiger, with replacement keeper Ismael Diawara having no more success than Johan Dahlin did in the opening half.

Gerard Pique scored Barcelona’s first Champions League goal this season as Ronald Koeman’s side beat Dynamo Kyiv to end their losing start to Group E.

Pique volleyed in a superb opener from Jordi Alba’s cross as the hosts found the net in Europe for the first time in more than four and a half hours.

Barcelona were comfortable, if not clinical, and success keeps their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.

They sit third, one point behind Benfica, who play Bayern Munich later.

Other Results.

Benfica 0-4 Bayern Munich

Young Boys 1-4 Villarreal

FC Red Bull Salzburg 3-1 VfL Wolfsburg

Lille 0-0 Sevilla

Zenit St Petersburg 0-1 Juventus

-BBC

The Porcupine Warriors will wrap up their preseason tour in Dubai with a club friendly against a third-tier outfit on Thursday.

Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko will be engaged in a preseason friendly against LaLiga Academy HPC at the Shababal Ahli Stadium in Dubai.

The Porcupine scheduled a scrimmage against Atletico Arabia FC but the game was cancelled due to technical reasons.

Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum’s side are yet to record a win in their preseason matches after losing to Al Hilal United and sharing spoils with Liwa FC

Asante Kotoko left the shores of Ghana two weeks ago to Dubai for a fourteen-day preseason tour ahead of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season scheduled to commence on October 29.

Asante Kotoko will arrive in Ghana on Friday.

The Porcupine Warriors will start their season’s campaign with trip to Dawu to battle out with Dreams FC in match-day one of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League

-Kickgh