Osun Babes FC on Wednesday evening got their first away win of the season after recording a two nil victory over Sai Aluwo girls of Minna.
An own goal from Saadatu Amazon’s defender Loveth Okoro and whizz kid Ikoyo Rejoice gave the Omoluabi Queens maximum three points away from home.
The evening was as comfortable as the Liadi Bashiru’s side might have expected against a side at the bottom of the Group B of the Nigeria Women Premier League.
Bashiru made just a change to the team that defeated Delta Queens 3-1 last Wednesday with Yetunde Oke making her first start of the season after being selected ahead of Ossai Esther, who was relegated to the bench for the game.
The visitors’ first effort on goal fell to Edewor Precious who took a curling drive from the edge of the area, Chioma Okoye in goal for Saadatu Amazons parried the ball, and Ikoyo Rejoice volleyed the rebound wide.
In the 10th minute, Amazon’s Doris Akachukwu almost took advantage of a loose ball from the Osun Babes defense line, but the danger was cleared by goalkeeper Linda Jiwuakwu who got injured in the process.
Ikoyo Rejoice missed what could have been the first goal of the game in the 18th minute after she received a great ball from Kesiena upfront but failed to score.
In the 30th minute of the game, Edewor Precious missed a great chance as she couldn’t convert a one-on-one with Chioma Okoye, her shot well saved by the goalkeeper.
At the other end, Saadatu’s forwards Alvin Dahz and Chiwendu Ufomba troubled the defense line of the visitors but the duo of Esther Elijah and Sarah Iloduba kept them at bay, and ensured the half ended goalless.
The Omoluabi Queens continued to dominate after the break, but Chioma Okoye and Becky Ajadi were up to the challenge. A shot from Edewor Precious from an acute angle went over the bar after the former Delta Queens forward was teed up by Ikoyo Rejoice.
Osun Babes made a double substitution in the early stages of the second half as both Yetunde Oke and Kesiena Ojiyuwv went off for Marcus Grace and Ossai Esther respectively.
Before the break, the Omoluabi Queens were excellent defensively but offered nothing going forward. However, on resumption of play, they should have been up by four goals.
The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when new entrant Ossai Esther and Edewor Precious exchanged passes in a patient build up, with goalkeeper Chioma Okoye off her line, Loveth Okoro poked the ball into her own net from Edewor’s low cross.
Another chance came the way of the visitors yet again after the opening goal when Marcus Grace ran at Ajadi Becky on the left of the box, moved the ball in-field and squared low, but Okoye got down smartly to her left to save.
Soon after, a penalty was awarded to the home team after an infringement was spotted by the referee inside Osun Babes 18 yard box, Ossai Esther the culprit.
The resultant penalty played by Doris Akachukwu was saved by Jiwaikwu. Her save drew wild jubilation from her team-mates.
After the penalty, Osun Babes looked very comfortable defensively, and a bit more purposeful in attack than they were in the first half.
In the 85th minute, Esther Elijah gave a long pass from her own half to Ikoyo Rejoice who used her head to beat three Saadatu Amazon’s defenders including the goalkeeper to score her first goal of the season. It was indeed a classy goal from Ikoyo Rejoice who is gradually getting back to her best.
In the dying minutes of the game, Marcus Grace’s low left-footed shot was saved by Okoye, after the former had skipped past Ajadi Becky.
With the 2-0 victory over Saadatu Kolo Amazons, Osun Babes now have 10 points and are 5th on the log of the NWPL.
