Asante Kotoko head coach Mariano Baretto has raised serious concerns about referee Jacob Aduntera decision to award his side a penalty in their Ghana Premier League week 30 clash against Karela United at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium on Wednesday.
The Porcupine Warriors scored a perfect goal under the first 10 minutes of the match after Evans Adomako tapped home a cross but was ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.
Twenty-three minutes into the game, winger Emmanuel Gyamfi weaved his way through the defense of Karela like a hot knife in butter to score the opening goal of the game.
Karela came close once to pulling level but striker, Diawisie Taylor could not apply the finishing touch to restore parity for the visitors.
The opening half of the match ended 1-0 to the home team, Asante Kotoko.
Richard Berko restored parity for the away team after 61 minutes of action to make it 1-1.
Kotoko were awarded a penalty on the 73rd minute and was excellently converted by Fabio Gama Dos Santos to restore Kotoko’s lead.
Speaking after the game on Wednesday, the Portuguese trainer expressed his disenchantment about the referee’s decision.
He said: “We scored two goals but I don’t know why one is not valid, I have information that it’s a clear goal. So two goals came to 1-0 but in the second half, I had many doubts about the goal of Karela United, even I have doubts about the penalty. I should be clear about this”
“But I think we have to accept the results because we are the clear winners because we are the best team in the match,” Barretto added.
The crucial fixture finished 2-1 to the Red and Whites who moves to 56 points from 30 games and are three points clear off rivals Accra Hearts of Oak who will play Legon Cities tomorrow in Accra.
