Off Season Friendly: Festival Of Goals as Imo Professionals and De Team Professionals (Aba) Share The Spoils.

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By: Ilekam ikechukwu (Flakes)

An eventful 8-goal thriller in a friendly duel between hosts De Team Professionals against visiting Imo Professionals was played today at the Okigwe Road Primary School field with both sides sharing the spoils in a dramatic 4-4 stalemate.

The visitors raced into an early lead in the 2nd minute when tricky winger Murphy Ndukwu got better of centre back Sunday Chinedu to tee up Victor Mbaoma whose composure in front goal proved crucial as he clinically put the ball past goalkeeper Okechukwu Johnson in goal for the hosts for the game’s opener.

The hosts having been punctured early on pressed their opposition in search of parity with couple of goal scoring intents off the legs of Chidiebere Nnachi, Nnamdi ibe and the impressive Nweke Kalu, but neither questions had answers as goalkeeper Vincent Nkwazema in goal for the visitors kept rising to the occasion.

The quest for restoration of parity became feasible in the 22nd minute when midfielder Nweke Kalu brilliantly struck a freekick from 20 yards to beat the opposition goalkeeper as the hosts drew level.

The eventful first half hostilities was far from being over as couple of impressive wing play yielded dividends for the hosts in the 38th minute with a moment of individual brilliance from Cambodian based winger Nnamdi Ibe as he was brought down inside the box by Emmanuel Matthew to gift the hosts a spot kick advantage. Abia warriors’ Emmanuel Ogbuagu showed up and expertly sent Vincent Nkwezema the wrong way to put De Team Professionals ahead as the hosts went into the break with a slim lead.

The second half got underway with couple of fresh injections from the visitors. The duo of Nwokeji Chiemeka and the diminutive Uchenna Akoma brought renewed vigour for the visitors as they dominated possession resulting to a 60th minute breakthrough off a counter attacking break when rampaging Victor Mbaoma later turned provider as he set up the onrushing Murphy Ndukwu who clinically powered his effort beyond the reach of goalkeeper Okechukwu Johnson as the visitors yet again drew level.

The entertaining contest wore on and the threat of star striker Victor Mbaoma was yet again felt by the hosts as his goal bound 66th minute effort turned to be a goalkeeping howler off the hands of Okechukwu Johnson. The hosts undettered as they pushed were awarded with a second spot kick advantage in the 71st minute, and the charismatic Nweke Kalu got his brace smile subsequently drawing them level.

In a quick response from the visitors in the 73rd minute, Kun Khalifat’s midfielder Iroegbu Kelechi regained the visitors lead with another composed finish off another impressive attacking football.

While gradually coasting to a famous victory, the visitors’ expectations hit the brick wall when Kun Khalifat’s Ebuka Nwokorie swung a dangerous ball in the box only for Bendel Insurance’s Stanley Okorom to unwittingly turn the ball into his own net deep into stoppage time, as the centre referee eventually brought the contest to a climax in a 4-4 stalemate.