Little known Nigerian teenage goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi was ‘talk of the town’ on Saturday when he saved two penalty kicks to give Tottenham Hotspur Under-18 side a crucial 3-2 win over North London rivals Arsenal in an Under-18 Premier League game.
17-year old Oluwayemi who was born in London to Nigerian parents saved two penalty kicks in the second half as the young Spurs came from a goal down to secure the win which took them back to the summit of the table.
Interestingly, another Briton with Nigerian roots Folarin Balogun scored both goals for the young Gunners but the exploits of Oluwayemi meant that Balogun’s brace was insufficient to extend Arsenal’s unbeaten run to six games.
Balogun opened the floodgate of goals as early as the second minute when he turned to apply a sweet finish with his left foot. Tottenham however equalise late in the first half through Jubril Adesope Okedina who headed home a free kick.
Rayan Clarke gave hosts Tottenham the lead for the first time in the game in the 54th minute but the visitors were presented with a chance to swiftly draw level three minutes later after a foul inside the box by Oluwayemi. The goalkeeper however atoned for the foul, guessing right to turn away Mathew Smith’s spot kick for Arsenal.
Spurs extended their lead (to 3-1) in the 68th minute courtesy of Luis Binks’ header but Balogun reduced the deficit with another smart finish thirteen minutes from time.
With the game looking poised to end at 3-2, Arsenal were handed a huge opportunity to draw level four minutes from time with another penalty but Oluwayemi, whose older brother Tobi Oluwayemi is also in the Spurs academy saved the spot kick yet again, this time denying Sam Greenwood.
Spurs held on for the win and Oluwayemi’s heroics did not go unnoticed among the club’s fans.
Funny young man was at the game at the den said do you want a pillow to him the amount of time waiting he done he laughed and said your keeper did the same I like his attitude good lad . But lucky on the night vs the mighty lions.
Tobi Oluwayemi is junior brother to Joshua Oluwayemi.
Tobi Oluwayemi is Spurs under 16 Goalkeeper and Engalnd under 16 Goalkeeper.