Football
Gata’s brace helps Saraki Boys to delay Abia Warriors’ hope of survival
Adeshina Gata on Sunday in Ilorin continued his recent heroic performance to help Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC came from a goal down to beat Abia Warriors 2-1.
The youngster scored a brace for the Saraki Boys in the match day 37 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter which was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
National Daily gathered that Abia Warriors went in front in the fourth minute when Moses Omoduemuke finished a well executed counterattack to put the visitors ahead.
The Saraki Boys after the goal woke from their slumber and dictated most of the proceedings in the first half with some Abia Warriors’ occasional counterattacks.
National Daily learnt that Wasiu Alalade and Martin Ossy were not composed enough in the early part of the entertaining encounter as they missed chances after chances.
The Saraki Boys came out stronger better than the visitors as they picked from where ended the first stanza.
In the 51th minute, Adeshina Gata tapped home a goal mouth scramble to level for the hosts.
ABS utility player, Samuel Oyedeji, had raced far to reach the ball which he crossed inside the Abia Warriors’ box for the goal, which was poorly cleared before Gata followed up to tap in the ball from a close range.
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The stadium was sent into exulting when Alalade beat Abia Warriors defenders to score but the assistant referee raised his flag for an offside to cut the striker’s and his fans celebration shot in the 74th minute.
There was mid-drama in the 77th minute when the centre referee sent off Abiodun Adebayo and the Abia Warriors player refused to leave the pitch,an action that triggered tension around the stadium as the Saraki Boys fans booed the visitors.
Gata completed his brace with one minute left on the clock to head past Chinedu Anozie in goal for Abia Warriors to put the final score at 2-1.
Gata’s brace was his fifth in two games as he also bagged an hat-trick when the Saraki Boys demolished Adamawa United Feeders 6-3 in the Aiteo Cup round of 32 match on Wednesday in Ilorin.
Gata, who has been fantastic in recent games for the Saraki Boys, was a hard knot for Abia Warriors to crack as the visitors close mark him whenever he gets the ball.
The result means Abia Warriors has to beat Rivers United on match day 38 to survive been relegated to the lower division.
The Saraki Boys boys will now travel to Lafia, bearing in mind that a victory for them will ensure their safety subject to other results from other centres.