By Saheed Afolabi
SGH Sports Academy pulled off a master class performance as they defeated Ambassador FC in the opening game of the second edition of the Notayo’s Cup Competition going on at Jalisco mini stadium, Oshodi.
Despite been reduced to ten men at the tail end of the first half, SGH Sports Academy brought their ‘A’ game to play as they showed their opponent their tactical prowess in the game.
Playing in front of their home fans, Ambassador FC took the lead early in the game to set the fireworks in the match.
The composure of the SGH Sports Academy team and well articulated play brought them back on level terms in the 20th minute through Opeyemi Ajayi.
The dominance of SGH Sports Academy and silk passing made them double their lead in the 25th minute through Samson Dauda with a cool finish.
When it all seems, everything was all rosy for the Godly Boys, a moment of a costly mistake by the center back of SGH Sports Academy put the goalie in danger with a dangerous back pass, which the goalkeeper couldn’t deal with well as the striker of Ambassador FC made his way past the goalkeeper of SGH Sports Academy, which made the goalkeeper to hack down the opposing striker outside his 18 yard box and the center referee didn’t blink his eye balls before issuing a straight red card to the ambitious goalkeeper and thereby reducing SGH Sports Academy to ten men on the pitch of play.
Ambassador FC with the numerical advantage equalized in the 50th minute before taking the lead once more in the 54th minute.
SGH Sports Academy regrouped and some tactical changes brought the Godly Boys back to their rhythm as they played their hearts out before securing a equalizer in the 60th minute through the outstanding Opeyemi Ajayi.
SGH Sports Academy had lots of chances to kill off the game beyond the reach of Ambassador FC but they were guilty of wasting them at the tail end of the game.
Having played a 3-3 fulltime draw, the penalty shootout was used to determine the winner of the tie and SGH Sports Academy stand in goalkeeper was instrumental to his side victory as he saved 3 spot kicks to lift his side to the next round of 16 of the Notayo’s Cup Competition.
