Match Report: UNIBADAN earns comeback win over OAU in female friendly

The Amazon of University of Ibadan narrowly defeated Giantess of Obafemi Awolowo University in the first leg of the double header friendly match at the Awo Stadium, Ibadan on Friday 7, April 2023.

Right from the first whistle, OAU Giantess drew first blood when Choice expertly curled the ball over the wall and into the back of the net to give her team the lead in 53 seconds.

UI Amazon responded quickly as they upped their intensity and put the OAU Giantess’ defence under sustained pressure. Their persistence paid off in the 6th minute when Onaopemipo Animasaun tapped in a loose ball from their star captain, Oluwatoyin Abu, into the bottom corner of the net to level the scores.

Both teams looked evenly matched, with neither side willing to give an inch. UI Amazon continued the match brightly, dominating possession with Toyin’s talismanic performance and creating a number of early chances.

The rest of the first half was closely contested, with both teams trading blows and creating opportunities. However, neither side could add to the scoreline before the halftime whistle blew on the half-hour mark.

The second half started in a much different way than the first, with UI Amazon playing with great intensity and determination.

Unsurprisingly, it was the Ibadan based girls who seized the advantage, as they won a penalty when one of the visitor’s defenders obstructed the ball with her hand on the goal line.

Mercy Adebayo stepped up to take the kick, and she made no mistake sending Joy the wrong way.

OAU Giantess responded with a triple attacking substitutions, throwing more players forward and putting pressure on the UI Amazon defence. However, the Amazon’s back line held firm and managed to repel all of Giantess’ attacks.

As the match entered its final stages, the Great Ife students became increasingly desperate in their attempts to score an equaliser with exchange of heated words between match officials and their manager, but the host’s remained resolute to hold on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

The Giantess will now take on UI Amazon in a second encounter scheduled for Friday, April 14, 2023, in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Player of the match

 

 

 

Despite the game being closely contested, Oluwatoyin Abu stood out as the lone star performer in both teams with her dominant performance.

Toyin’s outstanding show earned her the player of the match award, which was well-deserved given she was the fulcrum to the Amazon’s victory. She was a constant threat to the Giantess’ defence, using her pace and skill to take on oppositions and create numerous scoring opportunities.

Reactions

Talking to Made In Africa Sport after the match, Oluwatoyin was full of praises for her teammates for teamwork in securing the hard-earned victory.

“Basically, we won because of teamwork, if we had failed to win, I would have blamed it on everybody.

“Though from the look of things our attackers were not making use of the balls that was given to them and we should have won the game from the early start from first half but I am happy with everybody, the team is putting in their best, I hope to see a better game in the second leg in Ife.” Oluwatoyin said

While Toyin felt it was a deserved win for them, OAU Gaintess’ captain, Temitope Ogunyemi, argued that the referee robbed them off a win and promised a better outing when the Amazon come visiting for the return leg.

“We would have gotten three points if the officials were not biased,” Temitope said. “There is poor officiating, but we will give our best to improve our performances anywhere we have been lacking in the second leg and hopefully we will get the win.”

MATCH STATISTICS