If you thought the battle for NWFL Nationwide promotion would be a walk in the park, think again.
Osklean Football Academy and Obosa FA served up a high-stakes, end-to-end clash at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba on Tuesday afternoon, but neither side could break the deadlock.
The Port Harcourt-based side started with explosive intent, matching their Lagos opponents stride for stride, but missed opportunities would ultimately haunt them.
Ogechi Onyiye found herself clean through on goal inside the 18-yard box, only to drag her effort agonisingly wide with just goalkeeper Akodenou Happiness to beat.
Onyiye was involved again moments later when Happiness spilled a routine shot, but Onyiye’s trailing toe couldn’t direct the rebound home.
At the other end, the Rivers side survived a massive scare of their own when a defensive blunder inside their penalty box required a heroic point-blank save to keep the game level at the break.
The second half delivered even more drama as the Port Harcourt outfit surged forward straight from the restart.
Stephen Ijeoma broke into the area with only Happiness standing in her way, but the Lagos shot-stopper gathered her low effort comfortably.
As the minutes ticked away, the Lagos ladies mounted an aggressive late siege, hammering the penalty area in search of a winner, but the Port Harcourt side held firm to ensure both teams shared the spoils.
The result leaves Group D in a delicate balance heading into the final round of fixtures.
Following Obosa FA’s 3-2 victory over Plateau Queens on Sunday, the Port Harcourt girls will now face a strictly clear-cut scenario on Wednesday afternoon.
Nothing short of a victory by at least two clear goals against the Jos ladies will be enough to guarantee progression through to the next stage of the promotion race.
