Asante Kotoko defeated defending champions Aduana Stars 2-1 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday to wrap up the first round on a bright note.
Two goals from Songne Yacouba were enough to hand the Porcupine Warriors a fourth spot finish at the end of Ghana Premier League first round.
Aduana made an early incursion into Kotoko's box by the third minute as Emmanuel Boateng went past Wahab Adams but his cut back for Sam Adams was blocked by goalkeeper Felix Annan.
Two minutes later, Kotoko made their first attempt at goal with Emmanuel Gyamfi combining with Frederick Boateng to set up Yacouba, but the Burkinabe-import fired wide.
However, Yacouba made amends by the seventh minute and scored the opening goal for Kotoko. The striker curled a free-kick from almost 22 yards out past Aduana's defence to score his second goal of the campaign.
The Porcupines almost doubled their lead by the 14th minute after Jordan Opoku latched onto a pass from Boateng but the midfielder's shot was denied by the crossbar.
On 35th minute, Aduana had a free-kick outside Kotoko's box but Adams' effort was blocked by the wall, with Caleb Amankwa blasting wide the rebound.
Aduana greatly improved in the second half, carving out numerous goal chances which their strikers failed to convert.
By the 49th minute, midfielder Prince Acquah raced down the left flank and sent in a low cross which was perfectly knocked in by Yacouba for Kotoko second goal.
Aduana eventually pulled one back by the 67th minute through Adams after a goal-mouth melee.
Bright Agyei could've levelled the scoreline by the 72nd minute, but the former Tema Youth striker fluffed a huge opportunity after he was played through by Amankwa.
With ten minutes remaining, Aduana thought they had found the equaliser, after Justice Anane's powerful shot from a free-kick hit the crossbar and the rebound was tapped in by Adams, but the referee disallowed the goal insisting it was offside.
Kotoko finished the first round in fifth position with 24 points, three points behind leaders Medeama, while Aduana are 14th with 14 points, with four outstanding games.
