Bendel Insurance Beat lne Stars 3-1 To Retains Edo FA Cup









Bendel Insurance Beat lne Stars 3-1 To Retains Edo FA Cup
 
Iduozee Efe Paul. Benin 


Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin have again been crowned  champions of Edo FA Cup after a resounding 3-1 victory over Ine Stars of Benin at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on Sunday, March 31,2024.

The Benin Arsenals went into the game with Ine Stars as both state and national defending champions. They defeated their feeders team 3-0 last year to emerge champions. 

Left back, midfielder convert and utility Evans Ogbonda inspired the Benin Arsenals to victory over the stubborn amateur side in the final duel with a brace to help Insurance FC. 

Ogbonda opened scoring for the Benin Arsenals in the 36th minute of play when he calmly nodded in a fine cross from Dede Moughara from the left flank to breakdown Ine Stars resistance. 

Coach Greg Imhenoba,not satisfied with performance and result, made changes and tactical switches on resumption of the second half, as he brought in Obata for Divine Meyinwa and later brought in Meyinwa Oritseweyimin who eventually announced his presence with a chip in to make it 2-0 in the 72nd minute.

The amateur side also made significant substitutions as former Insurance midfield star Odumosun Bayo made his presence felt with his through pass that helped Peter Aluanda pulled a goal back in the 81st minutes  to restore hope for his Ine Stars.

In the 84th minute of play, Insurance stepped up their game, gaining more possession as captain Efe Enabulele's line breaking pass went past Ine Stars' goalkeeper, leaving Evans Ogbonda with a clear chance to fire in a close range shot which shook the net, sending Insurance fans into wide jubilation.

Speaking after the encounter, Bendel Insurance coach Greg Ikhenoba who led the team to victory in the absence of his boss Monday Odigie ascribed his team's success to God. 

He maintained that Bendel Insurance team is still work in progress. " I give God the glory for our success. "In a game like this when you play against the underdogs, one may find it difficult. So, we expected a difficult match because majority of Ine Stars players are exInsurance players and some others that came to Insurance for trials before. They know us, and would want to prove a point." Coach Greg Ikhenoba explained. #

Similarly,the head coach of Ine Stars Asemota Precious was visibly happy to finish as silver medalist and national FA cup contenders.  " We knew that the battle was not going to be easy but we prepared to give Insurance a real fight,  at least to avoid embarrassing defeat and I give kudos to my boys for their resilience. ' He said. 

More so, Bendel Insurance FC have been keping the Edo FA Cup trophy in their cabinet as undisputed champions since 2019.

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