Newly promoted Nigeria Premier League side Sporting Lagos on Friday produced an impressive performance to set up a final showdown with Remo Stars in the Naija Super 8 tournament.
Playing at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Sporting Lagos who were playing barely 24 hours after their last group game came from a goal down at half time to beat Akwa United 2-1.
Cyril Olisema shot Akwa United in front from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute after the referee adjudged Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Christian Nwoke to have upended Rilwan Sodiq inside the box.
Akwa United should indeed have gone ahead before then but the Promise Keepers fluffed a couple of good opportunities on the break, including Nwoke’s point blank save from Olisema midway through the first half.
The game was turned on its head in the second half as Sporting Lagos head coach Paul Offor switched from a 433 formation to a 352 to devastating effect. The impact saw the Lagosians use their width to ultimately wreak havoc.
Striker Saturday Okon should have drawn Sporting level two minutes after the interval but he inexplicably failed to score from two yards after good work by Jonathan Alukwu.
Not to worry though, the duo combined for the equalising goal in the 55th minute with Okon making amends by guiding home Alukwu’s ball, the Akwa-Ibom born forward’s second goal of the Naija Super 8 tournament.
The turnaround was completed in the 70th minute when Alukwu headed home a superb cross by left wing back Chiemeka Nwokeji. The goal was a reward of a spell of composed dominance by Sporting.
Fatai Osho’s Akwa United put in their best shot to claw their ways back but lacked the necessary final touch, winger Wisdom Fernando electing to pass to substitute Meshack Dennis when he could have punished sloppy defending by Sporting in stoppage time.
Friday’s win means that Sporting Lagos set up a final game against Remo Stars, the team against which they recorded their first win of the tournament on Tuesday. Remo Stars had earlier beaten Lobi Stars 2-1 in Friday’s first semi-final clash to get to the final.
Sunday’s final, a South West derby is expected to serve up the thrills, frills, tension and excitement on Sunday.
Picture: Sulaiman Adebayor PoojaMedia
