Ganja FC welcomed Oldham Athletic to the London Stadium on 19 August 2023 for a gripping league match that ended in a 2-1 victory for the home side. The match kicked off at 3:00pm, with a lively crowd of 7,646 in attendance, eager to witness the action unfold.
Ganja FC set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide both defensive solidity and attacking flair. Jerk Chicken donned the gloves in goal, while a back four comprised of Viren Mistry and Jamie Blanchard as right and left defenders, respectively, with Tyrone Mings and Bob Marley occupying the central defensive roles. In midfield, Reggae and YJ operated as central midfielders, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play. Ahead of them, Leon Bailey played on the right as an attacking midfielder, with Frank Brown in the central role and Ali G on the left. Leading the line was Michail Antonio, expected to utilise his physicality and pace to trouble the Oldham defence. The substitutes for Ganja FC included Kagoro Pasipamire, Aarav Chopra, and Reyhan Malik.
The match began with an electric start, and it took just eight minutes for Ganja FC to break the deadlock. Leon Bailey delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, where Michail Antonio was perfectly positioned to meet it with his right foot, slotting the ball home to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The early goal injected confidence into Ganja FC, who pressed forward in search of a second.
However, Oldham Athletic responded swiftly, equalising in the 19th minute. A well-placed header from an Oldham player found the back of the net, bringing the score to 1-1 and sending a ripple of concern through the Ganja ranks. The match continued to ebb and flow, with both teams creating chances but unable to convert them into goals.
As the first half drew to a close, Ganja FC's Reggae received a yellow card in the 42nd minute for a late challenge, adding to the tension on the pitch. The referee's whistle soon followed, signalling the end of the first half with the score level at 1-1.
The second half commenced with Ganja FC looking to regain their advantage. However, in the 54th minute, Tyrone Mings was cautioned with a yellow card, further complicating matters for the home side. The match took a significant turn in the 64th minute when Ganja FC made a triple substitution, introducing Kagoro Pasipamire, Aarav Chopra, and Reyhan Malik, who replaced YJ, Frank Brown, and Ali G, respectively.
The game became increasingly heated, culminating in a red card shown to an unidentified player from Oldham Athletic in the 71st minute, leaving them a man down. Ganja FC seized the opportunity, and in the 74th minute, Aarav Chopra made an immediate impact after coming on. He received a short pass from Reyhan Malik and unleashed a stunning shot from outside the area, restoring Ganja FC's lead to 2-1.
As the match approached its conclusion, Jamie Blanchard received a yellow card in the 89th minute, adding to the growing list of cautions. In a dramatic finale, Jerk Chicken showcased his goalkeeping prowess by saving a penalty in the 90th minute, preserving Ganja FC's lead. The match extended into injury time, where Reyhan Malik was cautioned in the 93rd minute, but it was too late for Oldham to mount a comeback.
With the final whistle, Ganja FC celebrated a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Oldham Athletic, a result that showcased their resilience and attacking flair. The home side will take great confidence from this performance as they look to build momentum in the league.
