Sporting Huelva 0-1 FC Barcelona: Victory against adversity
Solitary goal from Oshoala gets the points for a seriously depleted side due to injuries
www.fcbarcelona.com
12:45PM SUNDAY 13 OCT
FOOTBALL

FC Barcelona have collected a very well deserved three points from their trip to Huelva. Following the international break, and with several key players absent, an Oshoala goal made the difference and leaves Barça tied at the top of table with Deportivo after the first five games.

With María León, Jenni Hermoso, Van der Gragt, Losada, Falcón and Martens all unavailable, coach Luis Cortés opted for Patri and Andrea Pereira in the middle of a defence, while up front Barça found it heavy going against a side that just wanted to defend and try their luck on the counter – none of this helped by the poor condition of the surface.

Oshoala’s winner on the half hour was a cracker, and with the game opened up after the goal, but there was no further score. Job done, and Barça remain unbeaten.

MATCH STATS
Sporting de Huelva: Chelsea, Korina, Elena Pavel (Irene, min 62), Cinta Rodríguez, Fatou Kanteh (Peiró, min 70), Mascaró, Castelló, Sandra Bernal, Yoko Tanaka (Princella, min 76), Peace Efih & Alidou (Navarro, min 70).

Barça: Paños, Marta, Mariona, Hamraoui (Melanie Serrano, min 83), Alexia, Patri, Aitana, Leila, Graham (Candela Andújar, min 89), Andrea Pereira & Oshoala (Laia Codina, min 92).

Goals: 0-1, Oshoala (min 29).

Sonia's super shot secured the victory
Stefan Alhag

www.nairaland.com/attachments/10394260_ngozi3_jpeg653ed95a65c400785c4408d31083ff9c
A strong Nigerian duo in United in the form of goalscorer Sonia Ngozi Okobi and inside midfielder Halimatu Ayinde who was named United's best against LB. Photo: Stefan Alhag

It was a long way to get holes at Limhamn / Bunkeflo in the Rosa band match.

But a wonderfully beautiful left shot gave Eskilstuna United the victory at Tunavallen.

- We had tested many different ways to score, so I thought that now I try to shoot myself, says Sonia Ngozi Okobi, who dotted the Sunday's only goal, it came in the 62nd minute.

It was a bit like a single long press where pink-clad United led the game but had a very hard time finding gaps in the Malmö team's compact defense which often consisted of eight outside players deep on their own half.

So in the first half there was no nettle. However, the feeling was that Felicia Rogic should have received at least one, maybe two, penalties in duels with the away keeper. "Felle" was first on the ball, poked it away and then contact was initiated by the LB goalkeeper. But both times, referee Sandra Almkvist waved an aversion.

After the side change, United increased the intensity in pursuit of a goal and chances were created. Backen Matilda Plan was close a few times, both after set situations and when she took offensive runs in the regular game.

Fanny Andersson had a fine shot that struck tightly outside but did not want to - until Sonia found exactly right with her shot.

- The right is my best foot but now I got to try with the left, she says after the action where she freed herself from an opponent and shot with a screw to the far corner and got to see the ball go in through the bar.

Have you made a more beautiful goal with the left before?

- Yes, but that was when I was still playing at home in Nigeria.

After the lead, Vaila Barsley switched and tried to play in the attack. She also replaced Linn Vickius who got the chance from start for the first time in the OBOS Damallsvenskan and was responsible for a very nice effort on United's central midfield.

Linn and colleague Halimatu Ayinde dominated the middle of the pitch and contributed greatly to the fact that United could so often put pressure on LB. Clearly plus Vickius at the same time as Ayinde received the prize as the best player of the home team after barely losing any close match on 90 minutes.

Defensively, it felt quiet, for a very long time.

- Yes, I think they had a post in the first half that I had to pick down. It was probably nothing else, thinks goalkeeper Emelie Lundberg.

Cool cool then - but it was until the overtime minutes when the big, big receipt situation came. As if almost out of nowhere, Sophie Sundqvist, the Malmö team's clearest goal scorer this year, was completely free and the three Eskilstuna points suddenly hung on a fragile thread.

But Emelie Lundberg made sure that that thread did not burst through a high-quality rescue with the left leg.

- I was just trying to come out and make myself big. I felt that she was right near me and did not have full control so my thought was just "stop the ball".

Is it not particularly difficult to make such a rescue in the end when you have been idle before?

- Yes, but it is a sign that I am well-trained in my head. It is important to keep the focus up to the end.

How did you experience the game as a whole otherwise, Emelie?

- I thought we played them at the same time as we got nothing from the judge. It is difficult, in some matches one thing is allowed and in the next it is not allowed.

Limhamn's goal drought against United thus continues and the fact is that the team has not yet managed to score against United after what are now six matches in Damallsvenskan.

For United, there is still little hope of being second and reaching the Champions League, but then Gothenburg may not win any of the last two matches.

Otherwise, there is a nice third place within easy reach which would also be brilliant considering the starting position when the series restarted after the World Cup this summer.

Stefan Alhag


Match Report

Eskilstuna United-Limhamn / Bunkeflo 1-0 (0-0)

1-0 (62) Sonia Ngozi Okobi

Warning, United: Sonia Ngozi Okobi

Referee: Sandra Almkvist

Audience: 902

Ayinde wins Player of the Match after superb performance in Eskilstuna United win
Samuel Ahmadu
Correspondent
21:00. 14/10/2019

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The Nigeria midfielder was a star for Mangus Karlsson's side as they defeated Limhamn Bunkeflo on Sunday evening
Halimatu Ayinde marked her 17th Swedish Damasvenkan La Liga appearance for Eskilstuna United with a solid display in a 1-0 win over Limhamn Bunkeflo at Tunavallen.

Mangus Karlsson's side was seeking a win to keep their qualification for next season's Uefa Women's Champions League alive. Ayinde’s brilliance in midfield helped their cause.

The 24-year-old's impressive performance, recording the best passing accuracy, duel success rate and recoveries, ultimately won her the Player of the Match award.

Okobi winner keeps Eskilstuna United's Champions League dream alive
Samuel Ahmadu
Correspondent

Eight points adrift of Göteborg, the Nigeria midfielder ensured Magnus Karlsson's side maintained their bid for a European ticket
Eskilstuna United kept their qualification bid for the Women's Champions League next season on track after Ngozi Okobi's strike inspired a 1-0 win over Limhamn Bunkeflo on Sunday.

With Goteborg's 2-0 triumph over Kristianstad, Magnus Karlsson's side required a win over their visitors in their pursuit of a European ticket and Okobi was the heroine on the day at Tunavallen.

After a goalless first half, the 25-year-old Okobi scored the winner in the 62nd minute with a brilliant shot past hapless goalkeeper Chandra Bednar to keep her side's Champions League hopes alive.

post=83145982:
These young ladies are really making us proud out there.

Keep shining gurls.

This is only the beginning

shupsy2012:
But they couldn't do all these against ivory coast to qualify for Olympics.....smh.

carzola:
They are not wife material

post=83148007:

All the best in your business.
May God bless the works of your hands.
Nice day Mr Solar.

Kellie069:
But that Barcelona match sha! Even my street football pitch better pass am n also the audience was so poor! Nice one girls

DelphiOracle:
a lot went wrong in that match. D moral was not there.