CAF Confederation Cup: Olorunleke heroic sent Akwa Utd to final knockout round
Goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke saved three Al-Ittihad’s penalty kicks during the shootout as Akwa United advance to the final knockout round of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup in Uyo on Sunday.
The Promise Keepers defeated Libyan side Al-Ittihad 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate score over the two legged encounter.
After losing 1-0 in Libya two weeks ago, Akwa United beat the North Africans 1-0 on Sunday through Aniekeme Asuquo’s goal in the 46th minute. With the scores leveled at 1-1 after the two legged tie, the match went into penalties.
Al-ittihad scored their first two spot kicks before Akwa United’s goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke produced Man-of-the Match performance to save three penalties back to back.
However, Etim Mathew, Cyril Olisema and Kelly Kester all scored their spot kicks as Akwa United progress to the final knockout round of the competition for the first time in their history.
Both teams began the game with spectacular attacking play but the home side were quick to dictate the pace of the game and stamped their authority in the match and also enjoyed greater percentage of ball possession.
The Promise Keepers created five clear cut chances in the first half but were unable to convert them.
Michael Ibe and Cyril Olisema spooned their efforts in the opening seven minutes.
Denis Nya saw his header cleared off the line, while two of Aniekeme Asuquo’s goal-bound shots were saved by the goalkeeper Mohammed Abukhred.
The visitors thought they are a goal up midway into the first half but the assistant referee rightly spotted that the Al-Ittihad player was in an offside position.
United then took the lead seconds after the restart through Aniekeme Asuquo. The winger received a pass from the right wing, and beat two of his markers before firing beyond the goalkeeper.
Moments later, Cyril Olisema hit the back of the net from Aniekeme Asuquo’s low cross but his effort was rightly ruled out for an offside.
Towards the end of the match, the Libyans were reduced to ten men after one of its players punched the referee in the face when a decision went against his teammates.
Another player from the bench was also sent off for pushing the assistant referee.
Akwa United held on to a 1-nil win at regulation time, and went on to claim a 3-2 victory in a penalty shootout to advance to the final knockout round, where they will face one of the Champions League first round losers in a playoff for a spot in the group stage.
The Promise Keepers will know their next round opponents when the draws are conducted later this month.
