The host team of the ongoing Ottasolo Pre-season tournament, Ottasolo International FC on Wednesday forced their more illustrious opponent, Lobi Stars, to a 1-1 draw at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, in the first game of the MatchDay 3.
Ottasolo drew their first game with 36 Lions while Lobi secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Yobo FC on Tuesday. Both teams were looking for a win that will move them closer to the semifinal stage of the maiden edition of the tournament.
Both teams came out smoking as they continue to look for the opening goal but failed to come until the 23rd minute when Ottasolo FC’s Jelili Moshood put the ball beyond the reach of his goalkeeper, Korede Shodipo in his attempt to clear out Lobi’s goal-bound effort.
The newly promoted Nigeria National League side didn’t allow the goal to weigh them down as they continued to pile on the pressure which paid off just three minutes later as Ogunjimi Samuel headed Ottasolo back into the game after he connected a lovely cross from Issah Mohammed.
The game continued to be a ding dong affair till the end of the first half as the two clubs went out in search of the winner.
The second half took the same routine as the first but Lobi and Ottasolo failed to get any goal as the game ended 1-1.
Substitute Akeem Taiwo and Ifeanyi Ogber almost combined to put Ottasolo in front in the 75th minute but the latter’s header went inches wide after a good cross from Taiwo.
There was another opportunity for the host to score the second goal after a foul on Taiwo, who became a thorn in the flesh of Lobi Stars when he was introduced in the second half.
He was fouled close to the vital area of the Makurdi based side but Lobi Stars defence marshaled by ex-Enugu Rangers’ Etim Matthew stood tall to repel the free-kick well struck by danger-man, Samuel Ogunjimi.
The competition will continue later in the afternoon with two games; 36 Lions will be up against Yobo FC by 2 pm while it will be the turn of Remo Stars and Smart City by 4 pm.
