Bendel Insurance FC came from 0-1 down to beat Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan 2-1 in a Bet9ja Nigeria National League (NNL) game concluded on Monday morning at the University of Benin football pitch, Edo State.
It will be recalled that the Oluyole Warriors led 1-0 at half time on Sunday through Olawale Mutiu’s strike, before the last half was suspended due to a downpour.
The Benin Arsenals on Monday equalised in the 56th minute while substitute Charles Omokaro, scored what out to be the winner from the spot during added time.
The penalty kick awarded by referee Nwite Thomas from Abia State was protested against by the visitors as it came during the 18 minutes raised by the reserve referee as added time.
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Thomas had signalled 10 minutes as added time to the reserve referee but the latter instead indicated 18 minutes on the board raised from the sideline.
However, the referee also chose to blow the final whistle moments after the home team scored the second goal.
Head coach of 3SC, Edith Agoye, was a sad man after the final whistle but took the result in good faith.
“I don’t have anything against officiating, naturally the referee is a human being, he’s bound to make errors. So as far as I’m concerned, I’m alright with the officiating.
“We accept the defeat, we will go back home and continue to work hard, and we believe God knows the best.
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“Everybody saw what happened on the field, there is no need to say anything, Nigerians saw that, there is nothing for me to comment on again,” the former Esperance of Tunisia player told Tribunesport.
Meanwhile, 3SC General Manager, Rasheed Balogun said Oyo State government, the management, the players and the team’s technical crew did their best in leaving Benin City with a point.
“It’s like our best was not enough. You can see what we witnessed here, it was as if we were playing a World Cup final. I mean, what else do you expect? Our players really did their best and coudn’t have done more than what we saw today. In fact, I will say luck was not on our side.
“Had it been the game ended yesterday (Sunday) maybe we would have been singing praises now. We have come a long way in this game, the time keeper of every match is the centre referee, if he’s says 18 minutes, there is nothing we can do but so far so good, this game has come and gone,” Balogun said.