In a disappointing league encounter, AustenPlus Football Club faced Atlantic Business FA at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode on 21 January 2025. The match kicked off at 11:00 am, and it ended with a resounding scoreline of 6-1 in favour of the visitors, leaving AustenPlus with much to ponder as they return home.
AustenPlus adopted a 4-1-2-3 formation, which featured Akanbi Abdullateef in goal, supported by a back four comprising Bonire Musa on the right, Adepitan Adeleke and Darlington Ighedosa in central defence, and Anyanwu Nkemjika on the left. In front of the defence, Okeke Chijioke played as the central midfielder, while Shuaib Saheed and Yusuf Ibrahim operated as right and left attacking midfielders respectively. Up front, Joshua Obus was positioned on the right, with Damisa Osaitin as the central striker and Anayo-Israel David on the left flank.
The substitutes for the match included Olumide Owolabi, Umar Idris, Ifetomilade Azeez, Ebuka Daniel, and Stanley Osariemen, who would later be called upon to make tactical changes as the match unfolded.
The match began with Atlantic Business FA asserting their dominance early on. In the 13th minute, they opened the scoring, taking a lead that would set the tone for the rest of the match. Just eight minutes later, they doubled their advantage, leaving AustenPlus in a precarious position as they struggled to find their rhythm.
A glimmer of hope appeared for AustenPlus in the 33rd minute when Joshua Obus converted a penalty, bringing the score to 2-1. However, the joy was short-lived as Atlantic Business FA responded immediately, scoring again just a minute later to restore their two-goal cushion.
As the teams headed into half-time, the score stood at 3-1, and AustenPlus faced an uphill battle in the second half. The tactical adjustments made by the coaching staff were crucial as they sought to turn the tide.
The second half saw AustenPlus make their first substitution in the 62nd minute, with Olumide Owolabi replacing Yusuf Ibrahim. However, Atlantic Business FA continued to dominate, scoring their fourth goal in the 64th minute, further extending their lead.
In a bid to change the dynamics of the game, AustenPlus made further substitutions, bringing on Umar Idris for Damisa Osaitin in the 65th minute and Ifetomilade Azeez for Okeke Chijioke in the 72nd minute. Despite these changes, Atlantic Business FA remained relentless, scoring their fifth goal in the 73rd minute.
AustenPlus made their final substitutions in the 82nd and 86th minutes, with Ebuka Daniel coming on for Shuaib Saheed and Stanley Osariemen replacing Darlington Ighedosa. Unfortunately for AustenPlus, the match concluded with Atlantic Business FA adding a sixth goal in the 88th minute, sealing a comprehensive victory.
The final whistle confirmed a disappointing day for AustenPlus, who will need to regroup and reassess their strategies ahead of their next fixture. The heavy defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in the league, and the players will be eager to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
