By Gbenga Sodeinde
The week two encounter of the Nigeria National Football League (NNL 2022) brought back the tension and pressure that characterize the league especially for the home team as Ekiti United fought tooth and nail to find the back of the net against Abeokuta Stormers in another South Western derby for the JKF Boys.
Tactically, the visitors avoided dangerous incursions in their half shortly after an early goal was averted courtesy of lucky positioning of their goalkeepers who was at the right place at the right time.
The match went on thought out the first half without much attack from Ekiti United while captain and goalkeeper, Adewale Makanjuola was also on holiday for the better part of the first half.
On resumption for the second half, the host team displayed more fire power but the midfield and attack fell below expectation.
The defence marshall was one of the new arrivals at Ekiti United fondly called Spartacus as he nipped virtually all the attacking moves of the visitors in the bud except once when he overlapped and exposed the defence line to a counter attack.
Ekiti United main striker, Timothy Akinyemi was at his best but he never got a clear cut chance to fire at the opponents goalkeeper except once when his overhead kick was brilliantly parried by the lanky goalkeeper of Abeokuta Stormers who had also been wonderful between the sticks earlier in the game.
As the dying minute approached, Ekiti United coaches deployed all it’s arsenal and made 3 substitutions at intervals but were not allowed to make the 4th substitution due to new football rules until the intervention of the match officials who explained the rules of the game to officials of both teams.
Femi Ojo who was thereafter brought in did the magic by finishing what Bolu Afolabi started after a free kick in the 90th minute.
Efforts of both players resulted in the much sought after goal for Ekiti United that rendered all efforts of the visiting Abeokuta Stormers Sports Club for 89 minutes useless.
It was a heart break for the visitors but a hard earned victory for the host team after 2 round of matches.
Fans who watched the match at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium noted that a lot of work still has to be done to ensure better performance, cohesion and expected attack minded football by Ekiti United players.
Shortly after the tension soaked NNL match, Head of the Technical Crew in the Board of Ekiti United Football Club, elder Muyiwa Aregbesola urged the fans and lovers of Ekiti United to keep faith in the players and coaches.
Elder Aregbesola assured that Ekiti United players will improve as time goes on, adding that 90% of the players who played for the team last season are now paying elsewhere, thereby leaving less than 5% of players in the team for the season.
He congratulated the entire squad, coaches and management for the victory saying the team will continue to put in his best to improve in their performances in the league.
Ekiti United’s league game will be taking the team to far away Enugu state for the NNL week 3 encounter against Adoration FC.on Sunday February 27.
