The Lions ended their five-game winless streak in emphatic fashion, defeating King’s City FC 4-0 in the second group stage match of the Enit Project & Technologies Preseason Cup 2024 at the Akure Township Stadium.
The Selection
Coach Olayiwola Michael adopted a 4-3-3 formation and made three key changes from the last game’s selection. Adekunle Adisa, Opeyemi Babatunde, and Samson Ajayi replaced Oluwatobiloba Michael, Mathias Gowon, and Samson Adegbite, respectively.
Amaechi Sunday’s Perfect Hattrick
The Lions kickstarted the game on the front foot by dictating play confidently, an effort which paid off when Amaechi Sunday opened the scoring in the 5th minute, assisted by Terdoo Apeichie. He went on to double the lead with a brilliant freekick in the 25th minute with a well taken freekick on the edge of the opposition’s box and completed his perfect hattrick in the 40th minute, also from a freekick in a similar position
Maintaining momentum
The Lions picked up from where they left off in the first by pressing for more goals and dictating play confidently. Omolade Ibitayo went close to making it four but his effort was cleared off the line in the 50th minute, but he made amends by scoring the Lions’ fourth goal, lobbing the goalkeeper with a perfect finish after receiving a pass from Sunkanmi Adeyeye.
Tope Otaki’s Penalty Heroics
Goalkeeper Tope Otaki was adjudged to have fouled an attacker in the 65th minute when the referee pointed to the spot, but the goalkeeper stood tall and saved the resultant penalty kick to preserve his clean sheet and seal an emphatic win for the Lions
Wonderxchange(4-3-3); Tope, Lekan, Seun, Samson Ajayi, Omolade, Opeyemi(Richard A 83), Godspower(Oluwatobi M 83), Terdoo, Adekunle(Sikiru 80), Sunkanmi, Amaechi(Richard E 80) Unused subs: Samson Adegbite, Samuel, Frank, Elijah, Mathias
Goalscorers: Amaechi 5′ 25′ 40′ Omolade 58′
Assists: Terdoo 5′ Sunkanmi 58′
Booked: Terdoo 20′ Godspower 33′ Samson Ajayi 82′
