By Durotimi Olutayo
Gombe United pulled out the biggest surprise of the weekend to give their survival prospect a morale lift, as they came from 2 goals down to play out a 2-2 draw with IfeanyiUbah on Matchday 31 of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
However, the result could have been different if the referee had not blown the final whistle as the Desert Scorpions were about scoring the third – with the 5 additional minutes yet to be concluded.
The scoreline stood 2-0 in favour of FCIU at halftime courtesy of Isaac Loute’s brilliant freekicks, but the Desert Scorpions were back in the game as they levelled through 2nd-half goals by Sanni Abanni and Austine Oladapo.
Controversy broke out in added time, when the fourth official indicated five additional minutes. Ifeanyi Ubah went all out in search of the winner, but it was Gombe United, who threatened to score as they hit the Anambra Warriors on the counter.
Gombe’s attacking forays was about being rewarded, when they had a clear-cut chance after a brilliant link-up play, the savannah scorpions scored a third goal which should be a winning goal but the referee blew the final whistle – with the 5 additional minutes yet to be concluded.
The drama continued after the game, as the video tape of the game was forcefully seized by the Anambra State FA Secretary and some unrecognised people from the hands of Gombe’s Team Manager, who was about handing it over to the Match Commissioner.
This follows some other controversies trailing the 2016 Federation Cup champions, who won their first national title with their games against Crown FC and Warri Wolves not concluded after the referees also disallowed their opponents’ goals.
Credit: Durotimi Olutayo
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