Karbon sealed it for MBBS with the fourth penalty in a shootout against Wood Products Engineering after both sides went goalless in regular minutes at the SUB pitch, on the 12th of August, 2024.
The match started at exactly 4:17pm. WPE won an early freekick just outside their 18-yard box, courtesy of a foul. The tempo of the game in the early minutes was a little above average. In the 4th minute, Karbon took on a few players and dropped it for Teslim, but the defender guarded his space properly, earning MBBS their first corner in the game. On the other end of the pitch, the MBBS backline were doing a decent job, clearing their lines after a few interceptions resulted in a counter attack against them.
The SUB pitch was quite packed as a lot of people were keenly interested in the results of the game. There were handball shouts from the stands multiple times but the referee wasn’t paying attention. Shortly after, Prestige (MBBS) registered the first shot of the game, off target. After the first 10 minutes, both sides had equally been in possession of the ball, with the MBBS players displaying more that interest the eyes. Ramoni and Teslim, for the MBBS side, were at the forefront of the entertaining watch.
Later on in the game, Habeeb registered a shot, well defended by WPE. At that point, the play had gotten so frustrating for the WPE side as the teammates were seen complaining to each other. In the 17th minute, a WPE player went down, and the referee paused the game for the player to be attended to; the game resumed a minute later. In the 20th minute, Prestige got booked for a rough tackle – the first in the game. Two minutes later, WPE registered their first shot on target and got a corner from it. The set-piece was neutralized by Gerald with a header out of the 18-yard box.
As the tempo got higher, WPE had to do a lot more to keep the score line as a draw, at the very least. After a nice build up from MBBS, Habeeb on the left wing laid a ball for Karbon on the right but the defenders on him got the better part of the chase and the ball was cleared out. Prestige and Habeeb won a foul in succession, but the score line was intact. As halftime drew nearer, Teslim took a shot from 35 yards out, Karbon changed the trajectory and the ball went into the back of the net. Sadly, the offside flag went up and the MBBS side were denied. A goal kick, and the halftime whistle followed. The left wing was WPE’s most used wing in the first half; luckily for the MBBS players, they (WPE) couldn’t get a goal.
Second half started at exactly 4:56pm, with end-to-end play as both sides find a goal to save them from the palpitations in a shootout. Habeeb won a corner, but it was well defended. Seconds later, a cross from the WPE’s right winger got cleared out by Abang. WPE had a better second half start, but the student doctors did a decent job ensuring they didn’t concede. In the 38th minute, Fuhad came on for Prestige. Shortly after, a WPE player went down and a freekick was awarded; however, the score line remained the same. After a quick counter from MBBS, a few passes got the ball to the left edge of the 18-yard box but Ola’s volley went off target.
WPE registered another shot, off target. A goal kick from Adeoluwa, MBBS goalie, got in between the legs of his players, and ended at Fuhad’s who took on some defenders and tried a shot, albeit deflected. Shortly after, a nice play from WPE was watered down from an overhit through pass towards the opposition’s final third. Another ‘one-two’ from MBBS at the edge of the opposition’s box got cleared, resulting in a corner that wasn’t taken properly by Habeeb. In search for a goal, Fuhad, Ramoni, and Ola traded passes. This got into the opposition’s final third once again but Karbon and Habeeb’s shots got deflected in succession and the ball went back into the midfield. Habeeb, still in search of an ice breaker, curled a cross but Ola miscalculated in front of goal. WPE made a substitution and won a foul after but Adeoluwa comfortably cleared. Ramoni won a foul and that was the last one awarded before the fulltime whistle. After conversation and selections, both sides moved on to penalty shootout.
Teslim from MBBS took the first, having no pity for WPE’s goalie as he registered a fast shot just below the bar. WPE’s no. 10 opened for his side, tried to take after Teslim but his shot hit the bar and missed. Ramoni went after for MBBS and calmly slotted it in at the right, sending the goalie the wrong way. WPE’s no. 7 came after, but delivered a poor shot through the middle and Adeoluwa was there to punch out. Behemoth went for the third for MBBS and calmly sent the goalie the wrong way too. WPE’s third taker scored their first in the shootout and it was 3-1 to MBBS. Karbon, the fourth taker for MBBS, sealed it with a nice low shot, taking the student doctors to the quarter finals.
Speaking with UIMSA Press, Inioluwa Joshua John, UIMSA’s President, said ‘It was a very exciting game, our side had a lot of chances and the players did well. I’m also happy about how the team managed the shootout. I’m looking forward to the next stage’. Adeoluwa, MBBS’ goalie, said ‘It was a very nice game although we had a lot of opportunities and we put in pressure. Although, we also faced a bit of pressure at the back but then, we are MBBS Ibadan, we could withstand it. I was also super confident when it got to shootout, I mean, there’s nothing I can do’. A player from the WPE side believed luck wasn’t on their side. In his words, ‘We did well but luck wasn’t just on our side.’
Peter Adeyemo.
