Dino Avenge TCC Cup Loss with Triumph over Atlantic Business
An 86th-minute winner was enough to secure victory for Dino in their Opening Day game against Atlantic Business.
In a repeat of last season’s TCC Cup final, both sides held nothing back in the opening half. However, Uche Kizito was the busier of the two goalies as he was, time and again, called into action by Dino’s relentless forwards.
30 minutes after kick-off, the hosts broke the deadlock through Michael Terungwa. Michael was in the right place at the right time to make the most of a Fabian Sylvanus pass, and slot the ball beneath an onrushing Kizito for the opener.
Just before half-time, the visitors drew level. The Dino defense were caught ball-watching as Onyegbulam Nonso directed a free header into an empty net. After being initially ruled out for offside, the goal was eventually acknowledged by the referee, bringing the half to a dramatic end.
The visitors upped the ante in the 2nd half as they pushed to take the lead. They were, however, denied time and again by their profligacy upfront and the multiple bodies Dino lined up in front of goal.
Four minutes from time, they were made to pay dearly for those missed chances as Abubakar Abdulrasheed, a second-half substitute, put the ball into an empty net to put Dino ahead. In the end, Coach Godwin’s side needed a stoppage-time goal-line clearance to secure victory, start the season on the front foot, and avenge their TCC Cup final loss against Coach Adiro’s boys.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sylvanus Fabian (Dino SC)
He was on hand to provide the assist for Dino’s goal before going on to play a pivotal role in helping Dino secure maximum points.