In a friendly encounter held at Ayingba on 16 February 2025, FPI School Team faced a daunting challenge against Paau Steelers, who emerged victorious with a resounding scoreline of 5-0. The match kicked off at 3:00 pm, and despite a spirited effort from FPI, they were unable to find their footing against a dominant Steelers side.
FPI School Team adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which saw them fielding a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. The backline consisted of a central defensive duo, supported by right and left defenders, while the midfield featured a central player flanked by right and left midfielders. Up front, the attacking trio comprised a striker and two forwards positioned on the left and right. This setup aimed to provide a balanced approach, allowing for both defensive solidity and attacking flair.
The starting eleven included man in goal, with Andrew ebune and kasim omika occupying the right and left defensive flanks, respectively. Central defenders david p and paddy rt were tasked with marshalling the defence, while danjuma o, Emmanuel dmf, and Onalo Austin formed the midfield trio. The forward line featured kingsley s on the right, ola a as the central striker, and Nasiru Abdullahi on the left. The substitutes for the match were Perez jr, ajogwu y, stanley u, and bablo omar.
The match began with an early setback for FPI, as Paau Steelers were awarded a penalty just five minutes in. The Steelers' forward confidently converted the spot-kick with his left foot, putting FPI on the back foot from the outset. The Steelers doubled their advantage shortly after, scoring from close range in the seventh minute with a well-placed right-footed shot inside the box.
FPI struggled to find their rhythm as the first half progressed, and the Steelers continued to apply pressure. In the 20th minute, a Steelers player received a yellow card for a bad tackle, a moment that briefly lifted the spirits of the FPI supporters. However, the Steelers maintained their dominance, and FPI was forced into an early substitution in the 40th minute when Onalo Austin was replaced by Perez jr due to injury.
As the teams headed into the break with the score at 2-0, FPI made tactical changes, bringing on ajogwu y for kingsley s at half-time. The second half saw FPI attempt to regroup and push for a comeback, but their efforts were thwarted by the Steelers' relentless attack. Just three minutes into the half, stanley u was introduced in place of Nasiru Abdullahi, as FPI sought to inject fresh energy into their performance.
The Steelers extended their lead in the 70th minute with a stunning goal from outside the area, struck with precision by one of their forwards using his right foot. This long-range effort left FPI's goalkeeper with little chance. The onslaught continued, and in the 76th minute, the Steelers scored again, this time with another long-range strike that found the back of the net, further demoralising the FPI side.
As the match approached its conclusion, FPI's defence was breached once more in the 90th minute when the Steelers scored directly from a corner kick, the ball being headed in from close range. This final goal capped off a disappointing afternoon for FPI School Team, who were unable to register a response against their opponents.
Despite the heavy defeat, man in goal was a standout performer for FPI, making several crucial saves throughout the match. The referee, Aliu, oversaw the game with a fair approach, though the match was marred by the one-sided scoreline. FPI School Team will need to regroup and reflect on their performance as they prepare for future fixtures, hoping to bounce back from this challenging encounter.
