The Nairaland team at the TPL Digicopa Social Media Football tournament made a flying start to the maiden edition of the Nigeria Social Media football challenge organised by the TPL (www.thetpl.org) today by pipping the team from Twitter 3 goals to 1.

After two training sessions, the Nairaland team had no difficulty in choosing their starting team as follows:

Starting 10

GK: Malik

DF: Stanleyville
DF: Destiny
DF: Muideen

DM: Michael aka Ibadan
CM: Kola
AM: Bola

LW: Skilme
RW: BqleKAN

FW: Jarus

Subs
Omitolo (for Jarus)
Theophilus (for Skilme)


The match started with both teams trying to play safe. Good jobs from the midfield duo of Bola and Ibadan made Nairaland team dictate the pace of the game. The Nairaland defenders were also tested with forays by the Twitter attacks.

Less than 10 minutes into the game, a through ball from Ibadan was picked by Jarus who attempted shot on goal. Unfortunately the ball went wide.

The first half remained balance but the Nairaland forward lines of Skilme and Bqlekan from the wings and Jarus and Bola in central attack trying to break the defence of the stubborn men from twitter.

Jarus had another shot on target but this time around the goal keeper was able to stop the weak ball from Nairaland number 9.

Ibadan and Kola continued to marshal the midfield as they attempted feeding the attackers of the Nairaland team.

The first half ended goalless.

After a pep talk by the Nairaland coach, Kaysallas, the second half resumed with Nairaland team making an immeditae impact. Bola passed the ball to Kola in the midfield, who connected a long pass to Jarus upfront. Jarus' volley went on target but what should should have been the Nairaland's first goal was stopped by the twitter goalie.

7 minutes into second half, Jarus was substituted for Onitolo.

Nairaland team continued to press, with Bola making daring runs in the third half of the field.

The efforts of the Nairaland team yielded positive result as Skilme outran the Twitter team's right back to place the ball beyond the keeper.

Nairaland 1 - Twitter 0

Charged by the goal deficit, Twitter made desperate changes and within few minutes, got the equaliser through a header from the corner kick.

Twitter came back into the game after the equaliser, with their number 9 troubling the defence line of Destiny, Stanley and Muideen. The pacy forward was stopped a couple of times by the Nairaland team.

Nairaland made another substitute, with Theophilus coming on for injured goal scorer, Skilme.


Theophilus' first touch resulted in a goal after a box 18 scramble freed the ball to him and his shot from just outside the box went straight into the net.

Nairaland continued to have a good game while Twitter also tried to find another equaliser through their dangerous number 9.

This was not to be. Rather, Nairaland Kante, Ibadan, made a solo run from about 25-yard, dispatching two players and scoring what was the best goal of the day.

Nairaland 3 Twitter 1

the match ended few minutes after.

Players later went to Freedom Park nearby to have some fun before dispersing.

Pics

After match at Freedom Park

JarusHub Careers is the corporate sponsor of Nairaland team.

Ok, cool. I guess winning #issanairalandthing!

Cmyname:
Ok, cool. I guess winning #issanairalandthing!

Thank God Nairaland team didn't end up fighting on the pitch, calling themselves Afonja, Igbo and aboki

Nice one! On to the next one guys

Tolexander:
Thank God Nairaland team didn't end up fighting on the pitch, calling themselves Afonja, Igbo and aboki

Can't you see that the thing played safe

Afam4eva:
Can't you see that the thing played safe

I got that right.
It really played safe.
No combo of those characters abi?

sura the tailor is now sewing jersey

change true true

we are #TeamNairaland, The aim is to win.. but Jarus, where are the videos nah

oyb:
sura the tailor is now sewing jersey

change true true

Oruko ro mi ni

nice one Jarus, u nor tell me say you don work for goal dot come before, se as your commentaries be like professional journalist own. Well Don Sir

Kaysalas:
nice one Jarus, u nor tell me say you don work for goal dot come before, se as your commentaries be like professional journalist own. Well Don Sir

Lol

Nice job. Coachie. Your tactics won the game for us

Jarus:


Lol

Nice job. Coachie. Your tactics won the game for us

tactics for wia? na just God O!