RCCG sponsored side
City of David FC welcomed Bendel Insurance of Benin at the historical
Raymond King Ground known as Onikan Waterfront on Saturday.The stakes were high
for an entertaining show at the
colourful venue.It was a game the Bode Awakan tutored lads needed to win.
Emmanuel Yaro Bature
fired in a 45th minute winner as C.O.D FC completed a great comeback
in front of their die-hard supporters.
Godday Okhai sent an unstoppable header past Nathaniel Asibe to put the Benin Arsenal ahead in the
tie but Dennis Lawrence restored parity
for the hosts after a crisp cross by the assist master,Felix Adeworishe.The
right-back thus made it seven assists in the current Nigeria National League
campaign.
The game had all the hallmarks of a classic from the very
start with the lively Dennis Lawrence combining with Jamilu Muhammed and
Shakiru Jolaosho, forcing a smart save out of Oghale Company as early as the
fifth minute.
If C.O.D had any
doubt of the threat Bendel Insurance
posed they were soon reminded after Kareem Shaibu’s strike from the edge of the
area was cleared by Olowo Femi.
Moments later Omaka Tony broke down the right before
squaring the ball for Bature who slid desperately but could only turn the ball
into the side netting.
In the 19th minutes the home fans were silenced
when Edewhor Prosper’s inch-perfect cross was met by the motivated Okhai who
nodded past helpless Nathaniel in goal for the home side.
Shakiru Jolaosho then forced Oghale into a save at the near
post but the opener which C.O.D so desperately caved soon arrived.
Jamilu, playing in his usual holding role, sent a long ball
to 18-yard box which Efosa Ebosa headed wide for a corner-kick.The resultant
kick was taken by Adeworishe which found a lurking Dennis who beat Oghale
Company to power home his header.
A second goal didn’t look far away as Matthew Shuaib flashed
across goal but the busy Oghale cleared ahead of Bature.
Precisely 45th minute the visitors conceded a
soft goal.Isyiku Prince failed to clear Shakiru Jolaosho’s low shot, the ball eluded Dennis but Bature
was too good to miss the begging chance from close range.
It had been a good first half for the home boys and the
reaction from the fans was dancing and singing to the Anthem of the club.The
atmosphere at the Waterfront was compared to Camp Nou by observers of the game.
The second half was all about sizing up and threading the
safety lane.Bello Ikeleji almost made C.O.D’S defence pay for their lapses at
the back but the agile Nathaniel was on hand to save his side.
The Onikan Waterfront crowd urged the Jamilu-captained side
to go for more goals, however the outstanding Oghale was the pillar that denied
them.
New kid on the block Ismailah Podoh was given his Nigeria
National League debut by the technical crew led by Coach Awakan.His
introduction was greeted with great applause by the appreciative fans.The
15-year-old SSS2 lad almost made an
instant impact with his speculative effort being saved by Oghale.
In the dying moments the Benin boys almost made the home
team pay for their lapses at the back.Prosper’s shot was blocked by Femi Olowo.
The exciting encounter ended 2-1 with Jamilu Muhammed voted
man-of-the-match by a team of technocrats at the match venue.
The win by Bode Awakan’s lads catapulted them to 21 points
from 13 matches, while Bendel Insurance
have gained 14 points.
No comments:
Post a Comment