Avengers’ late goal rescues point in 4-Goal Thriller

Match Day 2 of the SLN Challenge Cup turned out to be a thrill for the fans and spectators who watched the game. Judging by the team line-ups, the game had all the ingredients to be an explosive match and it surely delivered on that front.

Samuel Idakwo took the lead in the 35th minute of the game with a well-placed side-footed curl to the far right of Avenger’s stand-in keeper. The goal was assisted by Cullen FC’s Daddy Bazuaye, who skillfully worked the ball between two defenders before laying the pass. Both teams played competitively, although most of the pressure was mounted by Cullen FC. There were a couple of chances between both teams in the first half, but none were converted.

The second half turned out to be feistier than the first. Avengers had the opportunity to equalize when one of Cullen FC’s players handled the ball in the 18-yard box. Reuben “Robo” Ojeyinka stepped up to take the penalty but failed to convert by sending the ball sailing over the cross bar.

Cullen duly made Avengers pay the price afterwards, when one of Cullen’s players was fouled in the final 3rd of the field. Daddy Bazuaye dutifully stepped up and unleashed a ferocious 35-yard screamer into the far right of the goal.

Some key substitutions made by Avengers coach, Dotun Epega, eventually paid off when the battle for midfield resulted in a slew of yellow cards and eventually, a foul awarded against Cullen. Up stepped Uche Ugwa who sent a 35 yard curler into the fray of bodies and beyond the goalkeeper. Avengers continued to play with urgency as the clock wound down, and were eventually able to make a breakthrough when Mathias “Abbey” Oyedepo capitalized on a goal mouth scramble and poked the ball into the goal to rescue a point in the final minutes of the game.