Orolu and Ifelodun Local Governments became the first two teams to reach quarter finals of the ongoing Osun Sports Festival as the four centres witnessed clash of titans in the match day 2 encounters on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Despite being held to a goalless draw by a hard-figting Boripe who has the woodwork to thank, “Benson’s Boys” zoomed to the knockout stage with 4 points having defeated Ede North by a lone goal in their first Group C match. Orolu will be joined by winners in tomorrow’s encounter between Boripe and Ede North but a draw is enough for Boripe to gatecrash to the quarters.
Ifelodun, without kicking a ball in Group C’s match day 2 game jumped into the knockout stage as Isokan and Ife East battled for a coruscating 3-3 draw, for Isokan to manage a point in two games. The mouthwatering game saw Ife East take a sparkling lead of 2 goals in 2 minutes by Tomiwa Awojobi in 22nd and 23rd minutes before Sikiru Adeniran halved the deficit for Isokan upon resuming for the second half. Yusuf Jimoh added the 3rd for Ife East in the 57th minute but were denied victory as Isokan scored two late goals through Sikiru Adeniran and Azeez Sodiq in the 76th and 79th minutes. In the last game holding tomorrow at Ilesha Centre, a draw is enough for Ife East to progress while a loss by 3 goals or more will give Isokan a lifeline.
All eyes will be on Odo Otin Centre for the Group B last round matches coming up on Wednesday as all teams in the centre have mathematical chances of progressing to the next round. Irewole who won their first game massively against Ife South 4-1 were pegged back following a 0-2 loss to Ilesha West. Goals by Samuel Offor in each half put Irewole in a tight corner but a draw in tomorrow’s game between Ife South and Ilesha West will be enough for both Irewole and Ilesha West to power through.
In group D, Odo Otin, who lost their first game to Ejigbo boosted their chances of making it to the quarter finals with a 2-0 win over Oriade following two first half goals by Afolabi Oluwaseun and Afolabi Joseph in the 16th and 32nd minutes. A draw or loss for Oriade at Ikire Centre tomorrow will give Ejigbo and Odo Otin the group’s tickets.
Two teams from each group will progress to the quarter finals of the competition which will take place next week.
