The battle in the knockout stages has not been a case of multiple goal-leads; it’s been more about squeezing out wins from this end-to-end showdowns. Of course, while predictions have almost always gone the fiercer sides’ ways, it’s not been bereft of some upsets here and there.
In the male category, the round of 16 left 8 teams in the tournament, quarter finals left 4, and now semi-finals left 2 to fight for the glory on the grand stage. In the female category, qualification straight to the semi-finals didn’t give room for more stages of knockout football. Hence, 4 teams paired in twos faced each other, leaving 2 winners to have one last dance in the competition, this time for the trophy. As excitement builds for the third-place matches and finals, mere hours away, let’s take a look at how the quarters finals and semi-finals played out.
MALE CATEGORY
Quarter Finals
With Statistics, Industrial Production Engineering (IPE), MBBS, Political Science, Civil Engineering, Psychology, Microbiology, and Petroleum Engineering left in the competition, fans were surely in for a ride. The first match of the quarter finals was between Psychology and Microbiology on Thursday, 15th August. Notably, Microbiology started without Lumi and Psychology played intensely in the early minutes of the game. Between their attacks, Microbiology had fast counters which made Psychology wary of their advances. Psychology eventually found the breakthrough from a deep freekick from Emeka in the 15th minute. Immediately, Lumi started warming up and was brought in, which proved to be a fruitful decision for the Microbiology side. Psychology continued their careful advances but could not increase their lead before the half-time whistle.
In the second half, Lumi capitalized on a mistake from Titus, Psychology’s keeper, and drew level for his team. This took his goal tally to 5 goals, only bettered by the current highest goal scorer of the competition, Paragon of IPE. Both teams tried to find the lead but could not before the full-time whistle, proceeding into the penalty shootout. The shootout was an intense and interesting one. The game required 22 penalty kicks to find a winner. The match seemed to be a repeat of the 2021 Europa League final between Manchester United and Villareal which also ended with the same scoreline and Microbiology’s goalkeeper, like David de Gea, missing his kick. This gave Psychology the win to help them qualify for the semifinals.
In the second match of the day, IPE fought to a 3-2 victory against Statistics to affirm their ambitions in the competition. Pius opened the scoring for IPE after a wonderful exchange. Afterwards, both teams engaged in an end-to-end display but IPE remained the dominant side. IPE missed a couple of chances to extend the lead. Before halftime, Paragon, the competition’s current highest goal scorer, increased his tally to 8 goals to become the highest in a single edition in the competition’s history. IPE seemed to be gentler in the second half. Mbappe of Statistics tried to pull strings for his team but could not find the breakthrough. Later on, Abraham scored to increase IPE’s lead by 3 goals. This goal eventually proved to be IPE’s salvation as Statistics scored two goals in the closing stages of the match courtesy of a penalty kick from Lateef and an effort from AJ. IPE survived to earn their spot in the semifinal.
In the second group of matches in the quarter finals, MBBS faced Petroleum Engineering. The match started 1 hour and 15 minutes after the pre-set time because both teams wore similar strips. Eventually, Petroleum Engineering got help and sported a yellow jersey for the match. MBBS started brightly and came close to scoring, only to see their effort cleared off the line. Some minutes later, a Petroleum Engineering player entertained the fans with exaggerated rolls after a collision with an MBBS player. The MBBS side continued to grow into the game but found it difficult to register most of their shots on target. In the 23rd minute of the game, Istanbul of MBBS ballooned a free-kick from the halfway line into the back of the net, sending the fans into jubilations and bewildered exclamations.
Zico came on for the Faculty of Technology side in the second half. His introduction proved to be a problem for the MBBS side. The beginning of the second half saw Pet play better as they charged to level the game. For MBBS, substitute Fuhad failed to hit the back of the net from a clear chance early into the half. Petroleum Engineering furthered their game dictation, with Zico attacking the MBBS defence. MBBS began to struggle to get out of their half and just before the end of the match, Zico stood over a free-kick but was unlucky to see his effort hit the crossbar and out of play. That was the last chance of the encounter and MBBS earned their ticket into the semifinals.
The second match of the day was between Political Science and Civil Engineering. Civil Engineering had earlier requested a postponement of the match because of a painful news the department got but it didn’t work out. Political Science displayed brilliance and had two of their goals cancelled, one because of an offside and the other because the ball had gone out of play before the goal. Civil Engineering struggled but kept its resilient defence. Eventually, Civil Engineering gave away their hold after their captain’s failed attempt to clear the ball allowed Oba to tap the ball into the back of the net to give Political Science the lead. Later, Pogba doubled the lead for the Social Science side. Kolade eventually pulled one back for the Engineering side in the second half but that was just a consolation goal. Political Science won the goal by 2 goals to 1 to secure their spot in the next stage of the competition.
Semi Finals
With only heavyweights Psychology, IPE, MBBS, and Political Science left in the competition, the semi-finals promised to be the survival of the fittest. The first game was between MBBS and Psychology on Monday, 19th of August. Unlike their last match, the MBBS side showed brilliance and dominated the game right from the start. Psychology played a very defensive game, isolating their star striker, Haaland, upfront. The defence stood resilient to MBBS attacks. In the 6th minute, Prestige of MBBS spectacularly curled the ball but missed the goal by a few inches. Ola of MBBS entertained the fans with his nice footwork but the student doctors could not find a clear chance. Psychology later grew into the game with passes trying to find Haaland but the MBBS defence of Istanbul, Tafa, and Gerald, coupled with timely interventions from their captain, Ramoni, waded off all advances. The first half finished with neither of the teams ahead.
The second half was more even; Haaland tried to score from the halfway line in the early minutes of the second half. The MBBS side began to attack again; this time, Karbon found Ola with a freekick but a timely glancing header denied the student doctors the lead. Habeeb was subbed on for Fuhad and immediately curled a freekick that was well saved by the Psychology goalie. Just a minute later, Karbon made an attempt on goal and the rebound found Ola who finished the attack with a tap-in. Psychology suddenly became alert like soldiers at the morning bugle call, ‘throwing legs’ everywhere. Ola was a menace to the Social Sciences side and was eventually forced out injured in the 44th minute after a foul. Psychology began to press desperately to get a chance at shootout, at the very least, but the student doctors would not give in. Psychology had a couple of freekicks at dangerous positions but could not convert any of them. The match finished with Ola’s goal as the only distinction between both teams and MBBS qualifying for the SEALS Cup final in just their second appearance at the competition.
The second semi-final was played the next day, between Political Science and IPE. The game was an interesting one from the beginning to the final whistle. The early minutes of the game saw Political Science run the show with their star player, Pogba, dribbling players while appearing in different positions at different times. Later on, Pius of IPE tried to work the ball to Paragon with a through pass but Paragon could not meet it. IPE continued charging in the game, with noteworthy displays from Pius and VK. The game fed eyes for most of the first half with both teams attempting to find the lead but chances ending up as attempts.
The second half started brightly. In the 11th minute of the second half, Pogba set up Oba and the resulting shot hit IPE’s keeper’s face, requiring urgent medical attention. Pius of IPE and Pogba on the other side continued to set up their teammates. In the 22nd minute of the second half, VK scored a powerful header from a corner kick by Kenneth to give IPE the lead. Jubilations filled the Old Stadium Pitch on account of the wondrous goal. Minutes later, Pogba earned a free kick but the resulting header was wide off target. Later on, Political Science had a deep throw-in and IPE were unlucky to see the ball go into their net courtesy of an own goal. In the closing stages of the match, a Political Science attacker fouled IPE’s goalkeeper, raising clamours for a red card but the referee refused to do that. The game was forced into the penalty shootout after medical attention. In the penalties, IPE defeated Political Science by 4 goals to 2 with Pogba and Elma missing their kicks. This is the first time in SEALS that there will be no team from the Faculty of Social Sciences in the SEALS Cup final.
The final between MBBS and IPE will take place on Friday, 4:00pm while the 3rd place match between Political Science and Psychology will take place on Thursday.
FEMALE CATEGORY
Semi Finals
The top 2 teams from Group A (Philosophy and Archaeology & Anthropology) and Group B (ASSE and MBBS) contested in the semifinals, with the leader of Group A (Philosophy) facing the 1st runner-up from Group B (MBBS) in the first encounter, and the winner of Group A (ASSE) facing the 1st runner-up in Group B (Archaeology & Anthropology) in the second match.
The round started with MBBS going against Philosophy. Both teams had their chances but neither could find the opening goal in the first half. The breakthrough eventually came when Chidinma converted from Eseosa’s set piece to give MBBS the lead with a screamer. Later on, Philosophy equalized via a goal by Tamar. Neither team could find the lead before the end of regular minutes and the game had to be decided by a penalty shootout. Both teams lost multiple kicks before Unique scored to secure the win for MBBS. The penalty shootout ended 2-1 in favour of MBBS.
In the second match, ASSE defeated Archaeology & Anthropology by 2 second-half goals to nil to qualify for the final. Omolola scored the first goal to draw level with Suliyat on the Top Scorers chart, while Esther added another one later on. The final between MBBS and ASSE will be played on Friday, 3:00 pm.
MBBS has her male and female team in the finals. This has been a topic dancing in the mouths of many. MBBS vs IPE, for the male category, will be a rematch for both sides after their first meeting in SEALS ‘23 quarter finals. MBBS vs ASSE, for the female category, will also be one for the books. Friday is a day to witness and the SUB pitch will be a testament to greatness.
Emmanuel Ibitunde.
