Blessing Ilevieda’s first-half brace was the difference as Bayelsa Queens defeated Nasarawa Amazons at the ongoing Betsy Obaseki Preseason Cup in Benin City.
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The game that was played at the Uniben Sports Complex wasted no time in providing goals as the competition’s inaugural champions raced into an early lead after Defender Blessing Ilevieda’s rang finish from a freekick in the 12th minute of the game.
Three minutes later Amazons missed the opportunity of getting the equalizer when their striker shot wide off the post from six yards out.
The Prosperity Girls got the rub of the green when the Centre Referee pointed to the penalty spot after an Amazon defender was adjudged to have handled the ball from a cross in the 18-yard box.
And Player of the match Blessing Ilevieda stepped up to score her second of the game to increase her side’s advantage.
Nasarawa Amazons came out to get a goal for themselves but the trio of The newly appointed Captain Angela Michael, Fehintola Mabokanje, and Goalkeeper Okeke Onyinyechukwu were equal to the task for the Prosperity Girls
Bayelsa Queens were forced into an early change when Evanick Touta was brought in for injured Olapade Zainab.
The second half of the game was more of a tactical battle between both coaches but none of the chances that were created by both teams was converted.
As a substitute Yemisi Samuel of Bayelsa Queens got the best of those chances.
The Standing Coach of Nasarawa Amazons Michael Oluwaseyi O. acknowledged the fact that it was a good game of football but also that his team will have to win their next game in other to have a chance of reaching the quarter-final stage of the competition.
His counterpart and Technical Adviser of Bayelsa Queens Coach Domo Okara says that his girls played according to his instructions by keeping the ball.
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Acknowledging that his opponent Nasawara Amazons is a big side in Women’s Football in the country, but his team’s ability to get two goals in the first half proved to be the difference in the game.
When quizzed further on his plans for the preseason competition, Mr. Domo said that he is in the competition to win it but he intends to achieve that by rotating his squad as the competition progresses.
Bayelsa Queens will be aiming to win the Betsy Obaseki Pre-season Cup for the second time in three seasons after missing last year’s edition because of their continental engagement.
By Yakubu Uzoma
