NPFL: Bendel Insurance force Kwara Utd to a 2-2

Bendel Insurance FC of Benin played a 2-2 draw with visiting Kwara United FC of Ilorin in a Week 8,  match day 1 fixture of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in Benin on Saturday.

Sadeeq Yusuf got the opener for Kwara United in the 15th minute when he beat the Insurance’s defence to slot the ball into the net.

It took a last-minute goal by Ismael Sarki to salvage a point for the Benin boys in tension-soaked match decided at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

Bendel Insurance came close to equalising in the 24th minute, but Ezekiel Tamara’s nod slightly missed the target.

Stephen Sodje, however, leveled the score after 27 minutes via a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box.

Six minutes to the end of the first half, Godwin Oshagbemi beat the defence of the hosts, giving the lead to the visitors and ending the stanza 1–2.

Bendel Insurance vs Kwara United – Second Half Highlights – Week 8 Match day 1

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Insurance, however, stepped up their game in the second half, but their dominance did not yield any result until stoppage time when Sarki nodded in a cross to restore parity for the hosts.

In a post-match interview, Coach Kabir Dogo of Kwara United said his side would have won if not for the inexperience of the goalkeeper towards the end of the match.

Bendel Insurance equalise in the dying embers of the game 2-2!

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Dogo said getting a point away was a good result that his team would consolidate in their next matches.

In spite of getting a dying-minute draw, Coach Monday Odigie of Bendel Insurance said the match was as he expected.

According to him, the two goals conceded were the result of indiscipline on the part of the hosts. He promised to continue to work on the team to get better results in their other matches.