Gateway Utd Miss NNL Playoff Spot By Whisker After Loss To Ekiti United On Final Day
Gateway United of Ogun State have wrapped up the 2018/2019 NNL campaign with a second place finish after a 1-0 loss to Ekiti United at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado- Ekiti.
The make or mar clash for the hosts got off to a pulsating start as both teams went in search of an early goal.
Julius Ikechukwu was the first to test Ekiti United goalkeeper, Makanjuola Wale with a long range effort which ricochetted off target.
Bearing in mind the importance of the match to their survival in the league, the home team committed bodies forward but lack of composure in front of goal proved to be their undoing.
In a moment of scare for the hosts, the visitors almost drew the first blood when Seyi Okeowo laid a through pass for onrushing Stephen Adodo but his effort at goal was deflected off target.
Both teams approached the second half with more attacking intent but it was Ekiti United that first got the brightest chance at goal after the referee awarded a penalty in the 60th minute for the host, which was missed when Adamu Azeez dived to the left to parry Tolulope Ojo’s spot kick.
Gateway United were afterwards reduced to 10 men after Araromi Nurudeen was shown a red card for time wasting.
Just in the nick of time, substitute Akinsemoyin Tunde picked a pass outside the box, moved to a free space at the edge of the box, and pulled the trigger with his left foot into the top corner. The goal was all Ekiti Utd needed to escape relegation.
The Akeem Busari side ended with 11 points to finish second as Dynamite FC with 13 points booked a playoff spot after a 2-2 draw against Calabar Rovers.
