The Under-17 Feeders team of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin were on Thursday forced to a 2-2 draw in the South-South zone, as the maiden Nigeria Premier Football Under-17 Youth League kicked off nationwide across the five zones of the Federation.
In the delayed kick-off at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Godstime Alakwe opened scoring for the young Insurance team in the 34th minute of play after picking up the ball from reckless Rivers goalkeeper.
The young Benin Arsenals went into halftime recess with a goal advantage.
On resumption, the host team came out better than they started and took advantage of goalkeeper Alieze’s poor calculation, and Rivers Utd got their equalizer in the 73 minutes.
Rivers Utd Under 17 side’s celebration of their equalizer was however shortlived as Sylvester Eweka headed home a fine cross from Alakwe in the 75 minutes of play to put the young Benin Arsenals in front again.
There was a mild drama in the 81st minute of play when an official of Rivers Utd Feeders popularly known as Ogbosor brought the game to a halt as he engaged the match officials in a hot argument for up to three minutes before he allowed the game to continue.
It was just as the referee signaled five minutes additional time after 90 minutes of regulation time that Rivers Utd side got a heartbreaking equalizer to deny Insurance the maximum three points.
Insurance Feeders’ Dominion Osaghae was the man of the match. The 15-year-old central midfielder who came into the game as a substitute became the shining light in the young Benin Arsenal side as he changed the complexion of the game with his mercurial display and masterclass passes.
Earlier, Bayelsa Utd Under 17 defeated their Akwa Utd counterparts 1-0 in the opening match at the South-South zone.
Insurance Feeders will be facing Akwa Utd in their second fixture on Friday at 9:00 AM at the same Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium.
