FC Finesse turned the game in their favour against GI and Friends

In the last match of the third round, we could see the clash of FC Finesse and GI and Friends. FC Finesse probably expected a easy game, but GI and Friends showed a form improvement after tough games in the first rounds and went to this match motivated and determined to take the first points.

FC Finesse started the game better, and with their activity, they got to the first chance right in the 2nd minute. Soares was ready and made his first save in the game. However, GI and Friends took the initiative and struck first. In the 8th minute, Dixon received a pass from the midfield, got rid of the home defender and passed the ball to Shah in front of the net. Shah had an easy job and sent GI and Friends to the lead 0:1.

The visitors kept being active, and in the 10th minute, they almost increased their lead. Dixon quickly played a free-kick from his half and found Gnocato, who hit the side netting. One minute later, Adeyemi had a great opportunity from a free kick from the edge of the GI’s penalty box; unfortunately, the curved ball hit the crossbar. The coming minutes brought chances on both sides. Worth noting is mostly Dixon’s free-kick from the 17th minute; the home goalkeeper neutralized the shot, and GI didn’t get the chance to rebound. FC Finesse threatened straight from a counterattack when Nwadiani sent the ball around Soares into the net, but Antao got quickly back and cleared the ball from the goal line for a corner kick. The ball from the following corner kick got to Agu, who shot the ball in the middle of the net, and Soares denied him with a great safe. However, he couldn’t react to Afuberoh’s rebound (18′), and FC Finesse tied the game 1-1. For the rest of the first half, the home team was more active in front of the opponent’s net. However, neither of the teams could get into a dangerous position, and the first half ended with a score of 1:1.

FC Finesse started the second half with a high pressing which got the visitor’s defence under pressure, and they started making errors. After a long pass at Nwadiani, the home team almost started celebrating. Nwadiani ran behind the visiting defence and released a shot from a sharp angle. The ball flew through Soares’s penalty area, and there wasn’t anybody to tuck it in. The home team got rewarded for their activity and pressing in the 33rd minute. Arogundade ran with the ball on the left wing and passed it in front of the penalty area to Duyile, who sent it under the crossbar of Soares’s net, and FC Finesse took the lead- 2:1. One minute later, GI and Friends played a corner kick and wanted to tie the game with all their players in front of the home net. The home team was able to clear the ball, and speedster Arogundade was able to nitch the ball in front of Soares at the half-line. He passed it to Haruna, who took the shot, and Dixon handballed the ball out of the net. An unfortunate moment for GI and Friends – a red card for Dixon and a penalty (35′). Afuberoh took the responsibility and placed the ball on the penalty spot. Unfortunately for the home team, his aim betrayed him for the moment, and Soares, with a great save, kept the hopes of first points alive. Visitors playing one man short were deeply in defence and tried to counter as soon as they got the chance. The 38th minute came, and Afuberof redeemed himself, went around two defenders and broke through the visitor’s defence. In a position one-on-one against Soares, he stayed calm and sent the ball to the front post – 3:1. Two minutes later, Arogundade showed his speed again and went one-on-one against Soares, but the visiting keeper was ready and denied the home speedster. GI and Friends didn’t want to give up, and their effort paid back in the 48th minute. Sehra got the ball after the home defence failed to clear it in front of their net, and Sehra sent a strong shot right to the back post of the home’s net. Keeper has no chance – 3:2. In the extra time, the visiting Shah has one more opportunity to tie the game; unfortunately, his shot ended up going way too high. The final whistle ended the match with a result of 3:2 for FC Finesse.