Just like last edition, Balanga LGA team have been denied a chance to qualify for the final of the Adamu Yola Gombe South Unity Cup after Oska United dimmed their hope In a 2-0 victory in the semi-final tie played on Monday at the Billiri Township Stadium, Billiri, Gombe state.
Balanga LGA team were the only surviving team from the semi-finalists of the 2020 edition after Balanga United, Bare City and All Stars all fell by the way side before the quarter-final.
But when everybody thought it would be Balanga LGA team’s year, Oska United kept their composure and have now joined Pokwangli United as the finalists of the 6th edition of the competition.
Fabregas Samson opened the scoring in the 12th minute after beating an offside trap to guide in a low shot past Goalkeeper, Ali Adamu at the end of a slick Oska United incursion into Balanga LGA team vital area.
Oska United nearly extended their lead some moments later as Josiah Madi’s free-kick was headed out for a corner kick by a Balanga LGA defender from the edge of the area to avoid scoring an own goal.
Oska United’s Sadiq Abubakar remained a threat on the break but squandered a good chance just past the half-hour mark. After connecting with Babangida Ibrahim’s pass and skipping past Danjuma Ibrahim of Balanga LGA, he failed to connect properly with the finish and shot straight at Goalie Adamu.
Oska United continued to look threatening in attack and were rewarded with the second goal when Sadiq Abubakar pounced on Balanga LGA team’s Hamisu Abubakar’s poor pass, allowing Oska to join together a neat passing move involving Sadiq Abubakar, Fabregas Samson before the former finished it off to extend their lead to two in the 71st minute.
Despite Oska’s dominance, Balanga LGA Team looked as though they would stage a comeback but their indecisive passes and lack of cutting edge in the final third cost them the game.
Balanga LGA have thus lost in the semi-final of the flagship competition in Gombe for the second successive year after they were stopped at the same stage by Bare City last year. They went ahead to lose the third place match 7-2 to All Stars.
Oska will now trade tackles with Pokwangli United in the final game on Wednesday 29th December, 2021 by 3.00 pm at the Billiri Township Stadium, Billiri, Gombe state.
