Regina Otu’s 63rd minute goal from the spot was good enough to give Edo Queens the needed victory over Osun Babes in Benin just after referee Christiana Adeyemi from Ondo State had given the home team a controversial penalty over the visitors on the hour mark.
Things were off to a methodical start at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on thursday afternoon, with some good possession from both sides during the opening minutes.
Edo Queens started off with the first attack of the game when winger Peace Efih took a long cross from Jumbo Nnegi from the right flank, but was intercepted by captain Esther Elijah.
At the 9th minute, Regina Otu was fouled and rightfully won a free kick. Which was wasted away through Vivian Uwandu.
Osun Babes picked up from there and started another quick attack which succeeded through Kemi Abiodun and Hannah Amos from the midfield, before the ball was transcended through for Edewor Precious , who neatly went past Bunmi Kayode and was intercepted by Uche Ndefo, who cleared away for safety.
However in the 32nd minute, Edo Queens saw their momentum stopped with Kenneth Aigbe left frustrated as Peace Efih lashed over the bar with an excellent chance to put her name on the score sheet.
With time running out in the first half, Edewor Precious got another opportunity upfront when she fired a long shot which was rightly blocked by Bunmi Kayode and that happened to be the last action of the first half.
Edo Queens striker Vivian Uwandu started the second half with a typically high tempo and brought a good save from Jiwuakwu inside three minutes.
In the 55th minute, Peace Efih advanced down the right to whip a cross that Regina Otu met firmly from close range, but the offside flag was up in any case.
Right on the dot of the hour mark, Edo Queens got a free kick which led to the resultant penalty upfront when a long kick was taken into the 18 yard box and Sarah Iloduba guided off Regina Otu and the referee surprisingly awarded a penalty which was a bit of a shock to the home team. Regina shaked off and slotted in the first goal of the game from the spot.
Osun Babes had to build into the game, eventually gaining success by pressing high against the home team’s attempts to play out from defence.
From that came the visitors first chance midway through the half and an excellent one at that, Jumbo Nnegi tried to dribble out of trouble but was halted by Rosemary Okoro, who slipped a quick pass to Atanda Seun.
The striker laid in Edewor Precious but with a clear sight of goal, she lashed her shot, which was pushed a way by Okeke and left no one to push in for a rebound.
Edo Queens went closer shortly after that, with left full back Ajumuda Rebecca battled through three Osun Babes players, she connected sweetly from the edge of the area to send a fierce shot crashing against the bar.
In the 85th minute, defender Bunmi Kayode gave the home fans an almighty scare, when she couldn’t communicate well with her goalkeeper and gave a back pass that was caught by Okeke and the referee paved way for the game to go on, instead of giving an indirect free kick to the away team.
The game however ended 1-0 with the home team recording their second victory of this campaign. With this result, they now stand 5th on the log with eight points, while Osun Babes are 6th on the log with four points. The Omoluabi Queens will now look ahead to their next game on wednesday at home against Delta Queens.
