Bayelsa Queens players and officials eventually got a sigh of relief today at the Agege township Stadium following a one nil victory over the ondo based team.
The match adjudged by many as entertaining kick started with sunshine Queens gaining most of the possession but couldn’t calmly convert in the early minutes.
Sunshine Queens first effort on goal came less than six minutes into the game when women Elite league sensation Rofiat Imuran’s drive from the left flank went wide which led to the first goal kick of the encounter.
Sunshine Queens ensured they caged the Yenegoa babes in their own half for the better part of the first half with superb display of football Artistry from Patricia innocent, mercy Idoko, tosin demehin and Rofiat Imuran.
Goodness Ihuoma ensured she marked joy Bokiri of Bayelsa queens well in the 27th Minute as the creative attacker tried to connect upfront with Charity Reuben in search of an opener.
In the 35th Minute again a superb run of play initiated in the midfield led to a pass at the left flank controlled by ikoyo rejoice and she immediately located Anibaba Ayomide.
The move was handled by sunshine Queens defence maestro Tobi olanrewaju who denied what would have been a clear cut chance for the girls from Yenegoa.
The goal eventually came in the 44th minute when charity Reuben profited from a lose ball in box 4 after sunshine queens goalkeeper Elizabeth Johnson already dealt with a long range effort.
Sunshine Queens pushed harder in search of an equaliser before the end of the first half but efforts were not enough as the first half ended one nil in favor of Bayelsa Queens.
On resumption into the second half sunshine queens continued from where they stopped in the first half in search of an equaliser but Jonathan Alaba calmly handled efforts from Aminat Yakubu.
In the 55th minute coach Wemimo Mathew introduced Precious Vincent who replaced Tosin Demehin.
Sunshine Queens however got a numerical advantage in the 58th minute when anibaba Ayomide received a second yellow card following a bad challenge on Aminat yakubu at the edge of the vital area, but the resulting Freekick by Patricia Innocent didn’t lead to a goal.
In the 87th minute Aminat yakubu combined well with rofiat imuran in the 18 yard box , but rofiat’s effort on goal sailed wide with precious Vincent far right advantaged to convert.
Efforts by both sides to score were futile as the match ended 1-0 in favour of Bayelsa Queens.
The victory gives the Yenogoa based team a sigh of relief as they keep a date with Nasarawa Amazons in the finals on Sunday.
It would be recalled that sunshine queens defeated Bayelsa queens in the finals of the Women’s FA cup in 2015 at the teslim balogun stadium, surulere Lagos.
Sunshine Queens will try avoid defeat against Rivers angels on Sunday when both sides play a third place match by 2pm
Sunshine Queens Team list VS Baysela Queens
Elizabeth Johnson
Wumi Oshobukola
Opeyemi Sunday
Goodness Ihuoma
Tobi Olanrewaju
Akudo Ogbonna
Aminat Yakubu
Demehin Tosin
Mercy Idoko
Rofiat Imuran
Substitutes:
Opeyemi Aiyeniberu
Rita Akarekor
Tina Oyatheleme
Funsho Ogunrinola
Precious Vincent (used)
Carin Yoh
Bayelsa Queens FC Team List against Sunshine Queens FC.
Alaba Jonathan(GK)
31
Odiri Lucky 2
Igwe Uzoamaka 13
Ikoyo Rejoice 4
Igbinovia Osamudame 6
Anibaba Ayomide 19
Reuben Charity 23
Igbinovia Osarenoma 10
Bokiri Joy 28
Saheed Adebisi 35
Joy Jerry 11
Substitutes:
Ihiabe Rabi (GK) 1
Tessy Biahwo 25 *used*
Okogba Macleans 33
Ikeh Ginika 26
Olaiya Barakat 9
Ilivieda Blessing 15
Joy Jegede 24
Sunshine Queens head coach, Wemimo Mathew in her post match interview rued missed chances but immediately commended her players for a Job well done
“It’s sad we lost, but I’m satisfied with the display of my players the luckiest team won, we are the better side but we’ve moved ahead and with God we Will sure perform well in our next match on Sunday ”
Rofiat Imuran
