EJIGBO MANAGEMENT CUP 2019: Future Stars, Divine Restoration FCs qualify for quarter-finals
Stories by Saheed Afolabi
Future Stars FC beat AZ FC with 2-1 goals while Divine Restoration FC also beat Orobo FC 2-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals at the ongoing Ejigbo Management Cup 2019.
The competition is organised by football coaches in Ejigbo.
AZ FC began the match with the hope of making a comfortable victory to the quarter-finals of the competition. AZ FC got their breakthrough at the 7th minute when they took the lead from a resulting free kick which was assisted by Igwe and scored by Wisdom..
AZ FC continued to dominate the game in the first half and scored another goal at the 12th minute but was correctly ruled out for offside by the center referee.
Future Stars FC scored a brilliant goal at 20th minute to the first half to level the scores at 1-1, which was scored by their top striker, Somto.
Future Stars FC started dominating the game after they leveled the score line with their accurate passing and good positioning and their good performance was awarded at the 30th minute when they were awarded a penalty after one of the central defenders of AZ FC used his hand to block a swinging cross in the 18yard box which the referee wasted no time in punishing with a penalty.
The penalty was duly converted by Somto, sending the goal-keeper the wrong way to complete his brace for the first half which ended with 2-1 with Future Stars FC taking the lead.
Both teams failed to add to their tally in the second half with just few half chances created with no goal scored.
The match ended with 2-1 qualifying Future Stars for the quarter-finals of the competition.
In the same vein, Divine Restoration FC claimed a hard fought victory over Orobo FC to seal a place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Management Cup.
Divine Restoration took better position in the first half with their pressing game, forcing their opponents to sit back and defend. Divine Restoration were however wasteful in front of goal despite dominating possession in the first half.
Kudos to the defenders of Orobo FC for being able to put up a good performance, denying the attackers of Divine Restoration any breakthrough in their struggle to score.
However, there was a call for penalty at 26th minute to the first half of the game but the referee waved it off to continue play, with both sides firing blank, the first half ended in a stalemate.
The second half began with a slow tempo game with both teams trying to stamp their feet on the ground.
Paul scored the first goal at 60th minute for Divine Restoration and doubled their lead at 75th minute with another goal.
A straight red card was issued to the player of Orobo FC at exactly 80th minute for act of indiscipline, which later compounded the hope of securing passage to the next round for Orobo FC.
Orobo FC was able to get a consolation goal at 2minute to the end of the game which was scored by Peter, but that was not enough to see them through to the next round of the competition.
Final scores were 2-1 in favour of Divine Restoration, emerging winner to face another team at the quarter-finals.
