Orodo A and Amaimo are the last two teams to scale through to the quarter-final of the 2nd Akarachi Mbaike Cup holding at Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Local Government Areas of Imo State.
Orodo A who defeated Ubomiri in the first round added Ifakala to their victims in the second round after they pipped their opponents 1-0 at the Ifakala Community Secondary Schoool, Ifakala, Mbaitoli on Friday evening.
Both teams met at the same stage last year in the same tournament but it was Ifakala that triumphed on that occasion. This term, Orodo A came more prepared and even though Ifakala had the honour of playing on the turf situated in their community, Orodo A came unperturbed and were rewarded with the only goal of the game in the 50th minute of the explosive encounter.
The goal came from the penalty spot after the centre referee adjudged that Ifakala Goalkeeper fouled Orodo A striker in the 18 yards box. Chibueze Agha stepped forward and planted the ball beyond the reach of the Ifakala goalie for his third goal of the competition from just two games.
Ifakala came all out and fought like trojans to get the equaliser but Goalkeeper Ajide Sikiru was up to the task as he saved about three clear cut chances including a last minute fine free-kick that was destined for the net. He had to recover from a shaky start that could have cost Orodo A the crucial win had those chances been converted.
In the second game played at the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Stadium, Iho, Ikeduru, the defending champions, Amaimo survived the penalty scare to qualify for the quarter-final 6-5 on penalties against Atta 2.
The six teams that qualified for the quarter-final stage are: Orodo A, Orodo B and Ogbaku from Mbaitoli while Amakohia, Amaimo, and Akabo picked the tickets from Ikeduru centre.
The 2nd Akarachi Mbaike Unity Cup is bankrolled by Engineer Akarachi Amadi who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Akarachi Foundation and Integrity Group Initiative(IGI).
Results and Fixtures Of 2021/22 Akarachi Mbaike Unity Cup:
Ikeduru:
Uzoagba 1-4 Iho
Amatta 0-4 Amaimo
Inyishi/Umudim 1-0 Atta 1
Amakohia 2-0 OUE
Ngugo Ikembara 1-2 Atta 2
Avuvu vs Akabo
Mbaitoli:
Ogwa 1 0-0 Ezinihitte (Ogwa 1 advanced 4-2 on penalties)
Ifakala 3-0 Afara Eziama
Ubomiri 2-2 Orodo A. Orodo A through to the next round 3-2 on penalties
Amaike 1-0 Ogwa 2
Ogbaku vs Umunoha/Asano
Umuagwu Umuwhoha 0-1 Orodo B
Akarachi Mbaike Unity Cup Second Round Results and Fixtures
Ikeduru:
Inyishi/Umudim 1-1 Amakohia (Amakohia qualified 4-3 on penalties.
Akabo 0-0 Iho. Akabo through to the last 8
Amaimo 0-0 Atta 2 (Amaimo qualified for the next round 6-5 on penalties)
Mbaitoli:
Amaike 0-1 Orodo B
Ogwa 1 0-1 Ogbaku
Ifakala 0-1 Orodo A
2nd Akarachi Mbaike Unity Cup
Quarter Final fixtures
Mbaitoli:
Ogbaku vs Orodo B (26-12-21)
Orodo A vs Ogbaku (27-12-21)
Orodo A vs Orodo B (28-12-21)
Ikeduru:
Amakohia vs Amaimo (26-12-21)
Akabo vs Amakohia (27-12-21)
Amaimo vs Akabo (28-12-21)
Net Shakers
3 goals
Akuonye Iwueze (Iho Dimeze)
Ekene Onu (Amaimo)
Chibueze Agha (Orodo A)
1 goal
Mmegwa Bekee (Uzoagba)
Simon Udoka (Iho Dimeze)
Chigozie Ogu (Amaimo)
Chikwado Iheanacho (Ifakala)
Chisom Osuigwe (Ifakala)
Chidera Onu (Inyishi/Umudim)
Eke Arinze (Afara/Eziama) (own goal)
Ugonna Oparaku (Amaike)
Uzoamaka Chukwuemeka (Ubomiri)
Chinaza Ukawuike (Ubomiri)
Osita Benjamin (Ngugo Ikembara)
Nwanyanwu Ojo (Atta 2)
Destiny Chukwuemeka (Atta 2)
Collins Onuoha (Orodo B)
Osinachi Okoro (Ogbaku)
Tobechukwu Ibeh (Amakohia)
Martins Kampala (Inyishi/Umudim)