Enterprising Edo Queens brought smiles to the face of fans by overturning a goal deficit to knock holders Mamelodi Sundowns into the cocked hat with a 2-1 win in their final group game at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Great effort by Edo Queens. I actually thought their chances of success had kicked the bucket after midfield maestro Chioma Olise missed a penalty with a putrid shot in the second half that could have drawn the game level.
But, like a phoenix, Edo Queens, going gang-buster, rose from the ashes of double setbacks to hit Mamelodi Sundowns to deliver the coup de grace in the dying minutes with 2 stabs at the net.
They started very well, pressing high, choking the midfield and winning aerial battles in defence.
But the team had no width up front with a formation that didn't cater for wingers to support the 2 centre forwards.
Mamelodi Sundowns then grew into the game with Interweave of passes and incursions from the flanks which paid dividends in 24 minutes after Kgadiete met a pristine cross with a powerful header to stab home for 1:0 to the South Africans.
Credit to Edo Queens coaching staff who speedily altered the formation and introduced wingers Moses and Osigwe (who assisted for the winning goal) and striker Mamudu (who scored the winning goal in 100 minutes in a deus-ex-machina moment of being in the right place at the right time to stab home): never a more effective set of substitutions made by a coaching team whose vision and tactical acumen snapped victory from the jaws of defeat.
Essien had drawn the game level with a ruthless connection in 95 minutes after a long ball from deep unsettled South African defense before the kiss of death finished them off a few minutes later after Osigwe and Mamudu combined to devastating effect for 2:1.
Edo Queens started slowly but picked up the pace after going down a goal. They didn't allow the South Africans settle into the rhythm of intricate passes that we know they can produce: thanks to Edo Queens' defenders and midfielders.
Edo Queens were simply untouchable down the flanks where they bullied and browbeat the opposition with beautiful dribbles which were not always accompanied with desired end product.
Had Edo Queens' crosses been more timely, neat and accurate, Mamelodi Sundowns would have taken far more damage. In fact, had Edo Queens centre forwards been composed, the Nigerians would have equalized earlier but Edo ladies were shooting too high and crashing the bar instead of bulging the back of the net.
The South Africans resorted to time wasting shenanigans which failed to bail them out. That was all they could do as Edo Queens dominated play and dictated the tempo for large periods in the second half.
Edo Queens defenders were simply awesome, coming out of the back in anticipation to intercept passes and not allowing the South Africans any headway when they managed to get into the Nigerian 18 yard box later in the game.
Chioma Olise is becoming a powerhouse in midfield with a dominant display here emphasising the point. In fact, the whole team played with urgency, drive, purpose and a never-say-die attitude which helped to resurrect their campaign.
Well done Edo Queens. You made us proud.
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