Nigeria Premier League side, Rivers United, has crashed out of Aiteo Cup competition.
The Port Harcourt-based team on Wednesday lost 6-7 on penalties to Julius Atete Football Club in the Round of 64 of Nigeria’s oldest football competition, the Aiteo Cup, after scores at regulation time stood at 0-0.
United never hit the heights all game long but were still far superior to their opponents as they completely dominated a dour contest decided at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
Clear cut goal scoring opportunities were few and far between for both sides with the ‘Pride of Rivers’ coming closest to breaking the deadlock.
Daniel Israel, Emek Atuloma and Bernard Ovoke all had excellent chances to put United in front against the Amateur club in regulation time, but saw their efforts foiled.
Under the fading lights in overcast conditions, it went down to the lottery of penalties and the both sides duly stepped up to the occasion, converting their first five spot kicks.
Ovoke, Atuloma, Ifeanyi Nweke, Guy Kuemian and Yusuf Jaiyeola were the first five spot kick takers for United and they converted with aplomb.
With the unheralded and plucky Julius Atete stars also not allowing nerves to get to them from their first five attempts, the exercise then went into sudden death.
Daniel Israel was the first to score, but with Atete also standing their ground, Zoumana Doumbia, the next Rivers United man on the spot light knew he could afford to make no mistakes from 11 metres.
He struck his effort firmly enough but it clattered against the cross bar as United hearts sank in unison.
Abraham Ovmiomoduaho then stepped forward for Julius Atete and duly converted the most important spot kick of his life to send shock waves across the country.
United’s technical manager, Stanley Eguma, expressed deep sadness at the result, but said his troops will now be roused ahead of Sunday’s important NPFL game against Enyimba.
Other results:
Ngwa FC 6 FC Galadima 2
Heartland 0 Insurance 0 (5-4 penalties)
Katsina United Feeders 1 Aklosendi FC 0
AITEL FC 0 Unicem Rovers 0 (3-5)
Mighty Jets 1 Sunshine Stars 2
Bayelsa United W/O FC Zamfara
Ede United 2 Sakaba United 0
FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders 2 Jigawa Golden Stars 1
Ekiti United 3 Dolphins FC 2
Rivers United 0 FC Atete 0 (6-7 penalties)
Delta Warriors 2 Ayade Babes 0
FC Yarmalight 1 FC IfeanyiUbah 3
Shooting Stars 3 Dynamite FC 1
Kogi United Vs Rangers International (Abandoned)
Nasarawa United 3 MFM FC 0
Doma United 1 Adamawa United 1 (4-3 penalties)
Osun United 2 Coal City Youths 0
FC Lokoja 0 El-Kanemi Babes 2
Kwara United 4 Sokoto United 0
Wikki Tourists 1 Plateau United 2
ABS FC 2 Enyimba FC 1
Samba Kurna 2 Wikki Tourists Feeders 0
Abia Warriors 1 Crown FC 0
FRSC FC 1 Potiskum Academy 0
Almar FC 0 Spartan FC 0 (5-3 penalties)
Moyero FC 0 Akwa Starlets 2
The following teams are through to the Round of 32:
Ngwa FC, Heartland FC, Katsina United Feeders, Unicem Rovers, Sunshine Stars, Bayelsa United, Ede United, FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders, Ekiti United, FC Atete, Delta Warriors, FC IfeanyiUbah, Shooting Stars, Nasarawa United, Doma United, Osun United, El-Kanemi Babes, Kwara United, Plateau United, ABS FC, Abia Warriors, FRSC FC, Almar FC, Akwa Starlets, Samba Kurna
The following are the outstanding matches to be played on Thursday:
Lobi Stars Vs Katsina United
Adamawa United Feeders Vs Cynosure FC
Niger Tornadoes Vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Halfa FC Vs Akwa United
Niger Tornadoes Feeders Vs FC Abuja
Yobe Desert Stars Vs Kano Pillars.