Tosin Akinwale was the hero of the day as he came off the bench to net the decisive goal for the Nurses/IHS&T/Cooperative in a tense 1-0 victory over Management/Administration at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Inter-Departmental Cup semi-final.
The winning goal came in the 67th minute from a well-struck set piece routine that slipped through the fingers of Emmanuel and bounced awkwardly before rolling into the net. The Management/Administration goalie’s failed attempt at a save proved costly, sending the large crowd of Nurses supporters in the stands into celebration.
Despite the defeat, the Management/Administration side created the better chances over the course of the match. They were left to rue missed opportunities, including a golden chance in the first half when David Okolie’s shot rattled the woodwork. Several other openings came and went without conversion, leaving them frustrated as the game slipped away.
Nurses/IHS&T/Cooperative, on the other hand, showed coordination especially in their defensive organization. They soaked up pressure for large parts of the game and capitalized on the one major opportunity they had.
Their supporters out in large numbers, filled the stands and proved to be a true 12th man providing vocal backing that lifted the team’s morale throughout the encounter.
The game was fiercely contested which saw a total of six yellow cards issued by the referee, three apiece for both sides as the match tested the players’ discipline and temperament.
With this result, Nurses/IHS&T/Cooperative advance to the final of the UBTH Inter-Departmental Cup, hoping to cap off their strong campaign with the ultimate prize.