Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, Wednesday defeated Otasollo FC 4-3(Shootout)and progressed to the round of 16 of the ongoing 2022 Aiteo Cup.
The game had ended in a 1-1 draw at 90 minutes of the regulation period, but the Benin Arsenal triumphed in the shootout that forced.
Insurance goalie Amas Obasogie stole the show as his heroic saves at the Kwara Sports Complex took the game beyond the reach of Ottasolo football club of Lagos,4-3 on penalties to progress to the round of 16 of the 2022 Aiteo Cup.
Bendel Insurance got the game underway in a very comfortable mood with a series of chances in the first five minutes of the game but was unlucky to bury their foes in the first half.
Bendel Insurance took the lead courtesy of Imade Osarenkhoe who made no mistake in scoring from the rebound of Zaidu Ayuba’s powerful shot on target
The Benin Arsenals had another opportunity to increase the goal tally in the 26th minute when Meyinwa collected a pass on the edge of the box and released a shot the goalkeeper could only look on as the ball zoomed over the bar for Otasollo’s goal-kick.
Ottasolo got into the game with some dangerous attacks after dominating in the midfield, but the combination of Benjamin Tanimu and Anyanwu Sunday brought the situation under control.
Dominant Insurance was close to getting their second goal towards the end of the first half with a glorious chance missed yet again Imade.
Insurance resumed the second half on the front foot, but they surrendered their possession to the Lagos-based team who took charge of play and got a deserved equalizer.
Substitute, Ayodele Shina calmed himself in the middle of Insurance’s defence and rose above Anyanwu Sunday and Tanimu Benjamin to connect his head with a square play to level up for Ottasolo in the 54th minute.
Coach Monday Odigie made double substitutions to add bite to his attack, sending in
Taiwo Oripelaye and Oluka Ngei were in for Sarki Ismael and Deputy Echeta respectively, but that did not change the result until the shootout that favoured them.
Ottasolo also made double substitutions to counter Coach Monday’s plan against them, but all to no avail as the Insurers maintained the momentum.
Insurance got a quick counter-attack, halted and was rewarded with a free kick. Benjamin and Zaidu stood on the ball and did a practice kick which rolled out for a goal kick.
During the shootout Bendel Insurance missed their first kick but went ahead to score their remaining four kicks as Amas Obasagie rose to save the last two kicks of Ottasolo to win 4-3 on penalties, sending his team into wild jubilation at the Kwara Sports Complex – a place they are yet to be beaten in four years.
Bendel Insurance FC now has NPFL side Nasarawa United to contend with in the round of 16, the same team they succumbed to in the same round last season.
Meanwhile, the feeders’ team of Bendel Insurance FC at Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium in Nnewi succumbed to Akure City Academy 2-1 in the same aiteo Cup round of 32, a game played under protest.
