The 2016 Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament continued Thursday at the Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club, Kaduna with Jericho out-galloping MR Steam 6-4 in Matchday 2 of the UNICEF Cup.
Jericho made by Koyin Owoeye (0), Saidu Umar (2), Ahmadu Umar (3) and Babawo Lawal (0) were the first to threaten as Owoeye had his goal-bound shot blocked by Suleman Bello but three-goaler Umar soon shot them in front with a 60-yarder. Moments later, the hitman, who was the MVP of the Low Cup at this year’s Lagos International Polo tournament, combined with his older sibling Saidu to double their lead which they held till the end of the first chukka. MR Steam has Suleman Bello (0), Mukhtar Adama (1), Abdulahi Hashmi (2)and Murtla Aliyu (2) and it was their hitman Aliyu who sparked their revival with a low shot at the start of the second chukka to make scores 2-1. He was to have two unsuccessful 60 yard shots the last of which was expertly stopped on the goal line by Ahmadu Umar. Seidu got his name on the scoresheet to keep their two-goal lead but Aliyu got a goal again just before the bell to keep his team within a touching distance as the chukka ends 3-2 advantage to Jericho.
Scores were levelled barely two minutes into the penultimate chukka as Aliyu finished off with a low drive after a breakaway but Ahmadu scored again to give the Ibadan-based team a 4-3 lead. And soon after he once again brilliantly stopped Aliyu’s mid-air shot. Saidu Umar closes scoring in the final seconds of the chukka to make score 5-3.
The goal of the day came from Ahmadu – a coast-to-coast breakaway – to give Jericho a 6-4 lead after Aliyu scored his side’s fourth goal.
Four matches are on the schedule for Friday in the 15-team UNICEF Cup with Susplan needing to avoid defeat against AGAD in order to be in contention for the knock-out stage beginning Saturday. Other matches will see Hamdan take on Iyatu Farms, Valda battle Seamans and Titan/STL confront Spring Villes.
