Ten-man Osun United Football Club battled to a 0-0 draw with Delta Force Football Club in one of the Week 2 Group B2 fixtures of the Bet9ja Nigeria National League on Sunday, at JJ Okocha Stadium Ogwashi-Uku.
It was a brimming performance from Osun United as they comfortably survived more than 15 minutes after a red card for Mamud Akorede. Delta Force pressed forward relentlessly but could not find a way through United’s defense.
The two sides renewed rivalry coming off defeats to Remo Stars and Unicem Rovers of Calabar respectively in the Match Day one (1) of the NNL.
A long bursting approach by United’s front three would have gifted the Omoluabi Giants an early goal but Victor Okeji’s timely header from Akorede’s well tailored cross was marginally wide.
The two sides still tied goalless as half time approaches when a heart breaking concussion, involving Emmanuel Osigwe and Sanni Hamzat occurred with the former being stretched out and couldn’t continue the game. Afolabi Olatunbosun was quickly thrown into fray. The former Remo Stars’ defender quickly hit the ground running.
Osun United lads valiantly approached the duel after the restart, Okeji once again proved priceless as he twist his marker inside out before Kelvin Salami in goal for Delta Force rushed out to deny him from point blank.
In a bid to sustain the tempo, United Coach Adebayo Adesina later turned to the bench and called on team captain, Hakeem Olalere and David Fadairo as both Segun Falana and Abdulsalam Yusuf were hauled off.
Falana would have sent United’s bench into wild jubilation moment before his substitution if he had made his goal attempt counts after benefiting from Dare Olatunji’s lovely low drive from the final third.
Osun United goalkeeper Maruf Olasupo made a sensational save as he managed to tip away a goal bound strike by inspiring Delta Force’s Yeo Chacoon.
It was an enduring last fifteen (15) minute to behold, when Akorede was given his marching order for second bookable offence. The closing stages was characterized with nerve wrecking defending by United defenders, to curtail constant threats posed by the host.
Coach Adesina said before the match that both sides would likely settle for draw, but he would have been far more satisfied than Delta Force coach Victor Okechukwu Agali, with the goalless stalemate after his team held on after Akorede’s dismissal.
“We came here for the maximum points but a point is not bad in this situation. Kudos to my boys for showing a positive character after losing the opening game of the season, we shall take positives from this game to our next home match,” Elewele as Coach Adesina is fondly called told OSUN UNITED MEDIA after the game.
The ‘Believe and Achieve’ gladiators will host NNL newcomers Dynamite Force in Match Day 3 contest on Saturday at the Oshogbo Township Stadium.
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