Our first game of the new year ended with a hard earned victory away from home as we went a man down to grab a well deserved three (3) points at the end of the ninety minutes in Ijebu-Ode.
A very fast paced opening ten minutes saw both teams go end to end on an attacking front. Edema tries out a shot from the edge in the 3rd min on sighting the Ijebu GK positioned off his line but his attempt went off target.
Ijebu United went on their attack in the 7th min as the attacker's nodded effort which was going straight on goal was punched away by Blues GK Alaba for a corner kick.
GOAL! The opener came from a quick break as a Balogun's pass towards the right side found Oyeniyi in the box, who calmy took his aim at goal in the 10th min.
Five minutes later Ijebu got a chance to level up in the 15th min but a strong decisive block from Owopetu was enough to stop the ball for a corner kick.
Yellow - Owopetu gets in the book in the 18th min as he tries to stop an attacking move from Ijebu United which looked threatening.
SAVE! The fierce attacking play continued on both end up until the 26th min when Alaba came up with a big save to deny Ijebu United an equaliser. The goalie came up straight and calmly in a one on one situation to parry the ball away for a corner kick.
Yellow - Taofeek was booked in the 28th min for a foul as the game gets heated up
Yellow - The referee issued his first caution to Ijebu United in the 31st min.
SUB - 40 min played and Ijebu United had their first change of the game.
Penalty - Ijebu United was awarded a penalty right in the final minutes of the first half as Owopetu was the player involved in the foul.
Red - The referee issues Owopetu a second yellow card for the foul in the box.
A man down and a spot kick to Ijebu United, it was looking like the Blues are going to have a long day...
GOAL! 45 min played and the hosts converts the spot kick for the equaliser.
HALFTIME - A goal apiece and a man down advantage to the home side at the break...
SUB - A double change at the restart as Biliameen and Olawoyin came on for Taofeek and Opeyemi respectively.
GOAL! Fagbayi's flick into the box from a long ball towards him resulted in an error from the Ijebu's defence which ended in an own goal as we regained the lead in the 64th min.
Alaba who has been on a fine form all through the game was rightly positioned to save a goal bound attempt in the 67th min.
Woodwork - Ijebu United in the 69th hit the woodwork when a low drive shot was attempted.
SUB - Ijebu United makes a change in the 77th min
A well delivered taken shot going goal bound in the 78th minute was denied by Alaba yet again drawing a fine save.
SUB - Tomisin is introduced for Edema in the 81st min
with Angel Salt and Gbadamosi coming on a few moment later for Oyeniyi and Balogun respectively for our final changes.
FULL TIME - With four (4) minutes of added on time the Blues held on to their lead as the game ended, registering our second win of the campaign and first for 2021.
GBAGADA: Olotu, Taofeek (Biliamim '46), Owopetu, Alfred, Nwocha, Balogun (Gbadamosi '88), Omolaja, Opeyemi (Olawoyin '46), Oyeniyi (Angel Salt '88), Edema (Tomisin '81), Fagbayi
Unused subs Innocent, Onawale, J.Blessing.
Referee: Akintoye Ayodeji
