Gateway United, this Saturday, got the better of Ibom Youth FC 1-0 at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta in a matchday 10 encounter.
Coach Toyin Ayinla made three changes as Afeez Yusuf, Ogunleye Sulaimon and Olawale Isiaka returned to the line up.
The game came alive in the 17th minute when Oronsaye James chested down the ball on the edge of the box, turned and hit a rocket which narrowly flew off target.
The visitor created an opening for themselves when Mfonisu sprinted with the ball to the left flank but fired over from 25 yards out.
On the half hour mark, Ibukun Araromi made a good catch as he was well positioned to save Ifiok Victor’s freekick.
Two minutes on from that, Afeez Yusuf tried his luck from distance but Endo Bassey was on hand to spill the effort to a corner kick. The resulting corner was well cleared by the visitors.
There was another opportunity for the home side, when Yahuza Bala couldn’t just get his head to the ball before the visitors’ goalkeeper got his hands on it.
No goal was recorded in the first half as Gateway United were left to rue some of their missed chances.
Needing to inject some urgency to the second half, Coach Toyin Ayinla made a triple substitution with Yahuza Bala, Olawale Isiaka, Ogunronbi Hawal coming off for Odusina Sunkanmi, Abawula Anthony, Babalola Azeez.
The subs would go on to tell in the game as seven minutes into the second period, Gateway United broke the deadlock.
Afeez Yusuf beautifully guided home a right footed volley after connecting well to a loose ball in the area in the 51st minute.
Another change, an injury enforced one was made by hosts when Ogunleye Sulaimon limped out with Samuel Akintola replacing him.
The home side tried to increase the tally but Ibom’s Chibuzo Onyido blocked Sunkanmi Odusina’s goalbound effort in the area.
Ibom Youth FC made theirpresence felt in the hosts’ area when Franklin Chinwdu’s header off Iniobong’s long throw hit the woodwork, a moment that had the entire heart of fans in the stadium skipped.
With minutes left of regulation time, Victor Adeoye’s bicycle-kick off a corner kick went agonizingly wide as Gateway United saw off an important win to remain top of the table.
Coach reaction
Coach Toyin Ayinla expressed his pleasure at the game with an assurance that his side will not rest on their oars.
“What a game. It was a hard fought one, in which we gave it all just for all maximum points. At times, what matters most is not the high scoreline but the ability to pip the opponents to the 3 maximum points”
“Like I have said for the umpteenth time, we take it game by game. We look for ways to get even much better particularly on the road. Of course, our focus is now on our next trip which is against Ekiti United in matchday 11”
