NPFL All-Stars put up their best showing on a playing tour of Spain even though they fell 2-1 to last season's UEFA Champions League...
NPFL All-Stars put up their best showing on a playing tour of Spain even though they fell 2-1 to last season's UEFA Champions League beaten finalists Atletico Madrid tonight.
The Nigeria league selected side played with less inhibition
and their equaliser by Abdulrahman Bashir was top-class.
The NPFL All-Stars thus lost all three matches on their
visit to Spain, 1-0 to Valencia and 4-1 to Malaga. They finished bottom of the
invitational Trofeo Carranza Tournament.
Again, Enugu Rangers pair of Obinna Nwobodo and Chisom
Egbuchulam did enough to get noticed and in the second half, central defender
Jamiu Alimi was solid at the back along of course with goalkeeper Ezenwa.
After creating numerous chances and dominating play,
Atletico deservedly went in front through Nicolas Gaitan in the 33rd minute,
when he capitalized on a defensive slip by Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and the impressive
goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa could not keep out the eventual fierce shot.
Substitute Bashir will draw the Nigerians level four minutes
from time, when he used his body strength to keep off his marker before rifling
home beyond the Atletico goalkeeper with a sweetly struck left-footed shot.
But just when it looked like the winners will be decided via
a penalty shootout, Gordin was allowed a free header off a corner in the 89th
minute for the match winner.
