Ten-man Shooting Stars got the better off Benin Premier League Association Sportive de la Vallée de l’Ouémé (ASVO) FC by a goal in the second semis of the Optima Energy Gold Cup, to set up an epic clash with defending champions Beyond Limits.
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At the quarter of an hour, Shooting Stars could have gone ahead, but Taiye Muritala failed to convert from Aliyu Abubakar’s good delivery in the box.
Ten minutes later, ASVO FC shot-stopper Douyeme Batori was forced to make a reflex save off an effort from Anthony Okachi.
At the half-hour mark, Douyeme Batori denied Shooting Stars the chance to take the lead after pulling a save from Aliyu Abubakar’s shot on target.
With all to play for in the second 45 minutes, Anthony Okachi was giving his marching orders for a needless challenge on Muri Dagbo and made play tough for the Oluyole Warriors.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute after ex-Flying Eagles star Ikouwem Utin set up Victor Chukwudi, and the attacking winger made no mistake putting the ball into the net for the only goal of the game.
Meanwhile, eight teams arrived in Ikenne and Sagamu, four each to compete for the offseason’s biggest accolade – the Optima Energy Gold Cup, which entered its 12th edition.
Each team played three matches in the group stage before half were eliminated. The top two teams from each group battled it out in the semi-finals.
Now, the last four have become two, as the winners of the semis Beyond Limits and Shooting Stars head for the finals billed for Saturday at the Remo Stars International Stadium with kickoff at 3pm local time.
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