TUNJI ALABI MEDIA OFFICER CROWN FC... In Ijebu Ode.
Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso have qualified for the quarter-final stage of the ongoing Dapo Abiodun Preseason Tournament in Ijebu Ode despite losing a lone goal to Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi at the MainBowl of Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode.
The game started on a heated note by the Makurdi side with a very quick display of the ball and operating from the winds after few touches in the midfield.
A miscalculated catch by Adeniyi Adejare, in goal for Crown FC, gave the Kabiru Dogo led side an early lead in the seventh (7th) minute when Segun Alebiosu spotting jersey number 27 tapped into the net a poorly parried ball.
The early goal by the premier side did not anyway lower the morale of the Ajilete Warriors as the duo of Tobi Adeyi and Effiong Itoro kept sizing the Makurdi based side.
The clear cut chance that would have leveled up the scoreline in the nineteenth (19th) minute by Effiong Itoro for Crown FC was narrowed missed.
For the experience and calmness of Owoicho Edoka and Monsuru Rafiu at the defense line for Crown FC, the very crafty leg over styled lanky forward, Abdulkareem Mumeen, would have increased the tally for the homers.
The very entertaining game ended at 1:0 in favor of Lobi Stars FC in the first half which lasted for forty-five (45) minutes.
Just two (2) minutes into the second half, forty-seventh (47th) minute to be precise, Owoicho Edoka was red-carded by the FIFA bagged centre referee, Quadri.
Fabby Clarks kept terrorizing and committing the defence line of the Makurdians with his pacey dribbles but getting the ball pass Ebube Duru, in goal for Lobi Stars FC, was a difficult task.
Tobi Adeyi’s perfect finish in the fifty-fourth (54th) minute, a goal that got a standing ovation from the officials of both sides, was disallowed by the centre referee, as the AR1 saw raising the flag to signal offside to the amusement of all.
The introduction of Moses Mustapha and Odudu Sunday for Fabby Clarks and Adeyemi Adeyeye saw the hard fighting Ajilete Warriors dominate the game; playing in the homers side for a long time.
Tayo Johnson would have leveled up in the eightieth (80th) minute but his last touch in the six (6) yard box was childishly weak.
The ten (10) men Crown FC kept having the best of the game making the tired-looking Lobi Stars redundant until the center referee called off the game.
Crown FC, runners up in Group B, played three (3) games, won one, drew one, lost one, scored one goal, and conceded one goal.
