*FRSC 3* (10) Rotimi, Umoru, Umoru
*CSC 3* (11) Oloton, Ebhose, Izu
The first Edition of the Kada Unity Cup – a brain child of his Excellency Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former executive governor of Edo state could never have desired a better start, and the manner the pulsating encounter between the two excellent teams: Federal road safety corps and Crescent Sports Club Benin City played out could not have dreamed of a better script
At the end everyone that converged at the football facility at Etete considered themselves fortunate to witness the riveting spectacle – one that needed sudden death in the ensuring shootout to seperate both teams and send CSC to the Semi finals
The game had started in a blistering tempo. Uyi Oloton sounded the first warning and sent CSC into the lead with a scorching volley that caught the opponents napping
CSC started to control the game with some beautiful combinations between 16 time ex international Baldwin Bazuaye and Izu Okoronkwo, but FRSC drew level when Rotimi cleverly sneaked to the near post to send Odey’s speculative lob to the box to the far corner with a glancing header. 1:1
Angered by the equalizer CSC went again on the offensive and got the ball over the line through Frank Ebhose which was declared a goal by central referee Precious Asemota despite protestations by the opponents
FRSC got level again when Muntari could not handle a shot properly as mercurial Umoru pounced on the rebound and the first half ended 2:2 leaving some spectators including heads of military and para military institutions present sweating
The tournament put together to foster cordial relationships between the security organizations in the state thus got the perfect start, but the second half turned out even better!
The ever dangerous Umoru found space and time on the right to arrange his carpeter that beat muntari to the second post for his second goal and FRSC suddenly found themselves in front for the first time in the tie
They kept this lead until 10 minutes from the end when the first assistant referee Osaze Egharevba spotted a handball in the FRSC box which the referee awarded to CSC after initially overlooking it
This led to a vigorous protest by the team in front, threatening to walk out of the pitch
Upon review the decision was canceled and FRSC managed to keep a CSC team that had lost its rhythm at bay till the last moment of 5 minutes added time
Henry’s inclusion for CSC did not get the required impact but Oloton rose to the occasion to send the ball to the outstretched hand of a FRSC defender yet again in the box, at the death and this time there was no argument
Izu Okoronkwo kept his composure to send the FRSC goalkeeper the wrong way, and send the game to Penalties
What a game!
Just before the final whistle CSC brought in their reserve goalkeeper Matthew Osagiede for Muntari to add his heroics to the tale
The PKs started with the first shocker as Umoru the best player on the pitch, on the day sent his penalty kick straight to the waiting hands of Osagiede
CSC kept the lead until the penultimate kick when coach Omorothionmwan’s effort was saved to restore parity
The kicks went to sudden death and after the last of nine players of FRSC sent his effort against the upright it fell on Goalkeeper Matthew Osagiede to play the final kick and send his team to delirium
He picked up the ball, picked his spot and became the Match winner in the most exhilarating of games.
CSC play Civil defence in the first Semi finals on Friday morning.
