Old Guard Secure TCC Cup Semi-final Tickets

The final eight has now been whittled down to a fantastic four after a dramatic TCC Cup quarter-final round of games.

Gbagada secured their fifth TCC Cup semi-final berth in a row with a 2-1 win over their city rivals, Sporting Lagos. The Blue Eagles were however made to work for that feat, especially after conceding the first goal in the fifth minute. 

But Coach Akinyelu’s men found their feet as the game progressed and drew level thanks to Taiwo Akire’s 39th minute leveler. Obayemi’s 89th minute screamer was both a wonder and a heartbreaker, helping to secure Gbagada’s passage to the next round of the competition.

There was however no such comeback for debutants, VOE. A 2-0 loss to Dino sees them bow out of the competition. Umoru Abubakar’s 39th minute goal and Amos Adzuu’s second-half strike were enough to secure victory for Coach Godwin’s side and set up a semi-final showdown against Gbagada.

The third quarter-final saw the biggest win of the round as reigning champions, Beyond Limits, proved too much to handle for Atlantic Business.Toheeb Abiodun opened the scoring in the 26th minute before Daniel added the second in the 65th. Kparobo Arierhi finished things off for Coach Olumide’s side as they continued their push to win back-to-back cup titles.

The final game of the round was the only game that didn’t produce a winner after 90 minutes. An early comeback for Real Sapphire was not enough as they lost to Imperial via penalties.

Blessing Ejimole’s early double had put Imperial in cruise control by the 15th minute mark. But before halftime, Yusuf Ibrahim and Azuboju Godwin had pulled Coach Dan’s side level. 

A goalless second half saw the game drag into penalties. While both sides scored their first penalties respectively, Real Sapphire would go on to miss their next two spot-kicks, missing out on a first-ever semi-final ticket.

Four teams now remain: Gbagada, Dino, Beyond Limits and Imperial. Which two will make the final?