Academy Football SKE of Portharcourt progressed to the quarter-finals in the ongoing Brown Ideye Challenge Competition in a dramatic fashion despite losing two nil to their opponent Garden City Panthers. Coach Gabriel Nwiyara rested five key players that took part in the last game against Fountain FC.
Academy Football SKE started the game on a jittery note as Garden City Panthers dominated the early stages of the game. Panthers had a glorious opportunity in the 17th minute to be in front when their striker shoot wide in front of goalie John Agwu.
Garden City Panthers were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute when defender John Ogbokuma upended his marker in his box. The penalty kick was blown over the bar by their attacker. Panthers exhibited some scintillating football as the came close to break the deadlock in the 37th minute but a last ditch clearance by defender Gambo Musa prevented Panthers from taking the lead.
Garden City Panthers scored the opener in the 40th minute courtesy of Ebiegberi Jephter following a lose ball by goalie John Agwu as the striker made no mistake to slam the ball inside an empty net. Academy Football SKE failed to hit any shot on target in the first half.
Garden City Panthers continued to dominate proceedings upon resumption of the second half hostilities. Defender Gambo Musa was the hero for Academy Football SKE as he made yet another goal line clearance in the 52nd minute. Coach Nwiyara made some substitutions as some key players were thrown into the fray.
The best opportunity for Academy Football SKE came in the 76th minute when winger Kimi Jeremiah skipped past his marker to find Anthony Obia but the goal keeper came to the rescue to punch the ball out.
The damage was completed in the 90+3 minute when striker Ikechukwu Nwafor beat the offside trap to tap the ball inside the net as his side ran out victorious by two goals to nil. Despite the defeat, Academy Football SKE scaled through to the next round of the tourney as runners-up to Garden City Panthers who topped the pile in Group C with nine points and a healthy goals difference of plus eleven.
Academy Football SKE finished with nine points and a plus five goals difference ahead of Fountain FC who had same number of points but a plus four goal difference.
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