The Nationwide League One/Ikukuoma Super Cup lived up to the hype on MatchDay 1, as the four fixtures recorded three victories and a draw, with 16 goals scored while Kemfon Davidson displayed a five-star performance for Palm Syrup after he bagged a hat-trick.
The star game and a derby between two Imo State teams, Summer FC and Ave FC ended in a 3-3 stalemate but Ave FC will rue their poor defending, after finishing the first half 2-0.
Fans at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex were left on the edge of their seats from the 1st minute to the end of the game.
The first real chance came in the 18th minute after goalkeeper Sebastine Chibuike of Ave FC made a magnificent save to deny Unaegbu Osinachi low drive set piece.
Ave FC then went ahead in the 25th minute as Ledee Victor chipped the ball into the net from a terrific assist from Alwell Jones. Forty minutes later, they were two goals up via a strike from enterprising left back Adesokan Abdulmalik.
Nine minutes into the second half, the comeback started for Summer FC after Andrew Joshua found the back of Ave FC’s goal.
Summer FC’s joy was later cut short in the 59th minute as Adesokan Abdulmalik got his brace with a well-converted spot kick to make it 1-3 for Ave FC.
A brilliant display within four minutes saw Summer FC earning a point from the game, as in the 70th minute, Ebuka Duru, made the most from a defensive blunder to fire home past Ave goalie Sebastine Chibuike for 2-3.
While Osinachi Unaegbu completed the comeback with a 74th-minute strike from a delightful free kick from the edge of the box.
It was a five-goal thriller in the opening game of the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, in Ihitte/Uboma LGA, as Palm Syrup beat Paul E FC 3-2.
Kemfon Davidson opened the tournament goal feast with the first strike for Palm Syrup in the 17th minute, and a quarter of an hour later, he curled home a delightful free kick from the edge of the box to double lead and net his brace.
It was a respite for Paul E in the 40th minute after Moses Ezekiel struck home to make it 2-1 heading into the break.
Davidson proved difficult to contain by the defense line of Paul E, as two minutes into the second half, the lanky attacking midfielder blasted in a delightful set piece for his hat-trick and a two-goal cushion for Palm Syrup at 3-1.
It was a little too late for Paul E to get back into the game as they got a penalty in the 90th minute which Swande Mathew converted with a powerful drive that flashed past Palm Syrup’s goalkeeper in goal.
The other games ended JSC FC 1-2 Jaguar FC, while Ikukuoma FC put two goals past Giant Brillars. The action continues on MatchDay 2 with eye-catching fixtures.
MATCHDAY ONE RESULTS
Palm Syrup FC 3-2 Paul E FC
JSC FC 1-2 Jaguar FC
Ikukuoma FC 2-0 Giant Brillars
Summer FC 3-3 Ave FC
