Spanking! MFM 3-0 Sunshine Stars

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club began their quest in the 4th edition of the Gold Cup pre-season event with a commanding 3-0 victory over fellow Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Sunshine Stars Football Club on Friday at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium.

Amateur Team Held Kano Pillars At Gold Cup Preseason Tourney Gold Cup tourney defending champions, Kano Pillars started the tournament with a disappointing goalless draw against a 10-man FC Ebedei. The Sai Masu Gida took the game to the Nationwide League One team but they showed their resilience as they held the former Nigeria Premier League side to a first half draw. The second half saw a better response from both teams with Pillars creating most of the chances, but the Oliseh Boys back line was brilliant as they kept Gambo Mohammed, Amos Gyang and other players at bay. The championship recorded its first red card after FC Ebedei's winger, Chukwurah Dubem fouled Pillars striker in a needless tackle in the 78th minute. A brilliant FC Ebedei who then soaked the pressure till the 84th minute would have conceded their first goal but Kano Pillars Chinedu Oyinnono blasted his shot wide. The Oliseh Boys held their lines firm as the game ended 0-0 to the dismay of Pillars who showed some Nigeria Premier League stuff to the amusement to the fans who shared their support for both teams. Head Coach of FC Ebedei, Babatunde Oladeinde expressed his delight at his players as they gave a good account of themselves. "It was a tough game, my players did well. They showed resilience as they didn't let last year's 2-0 result affect them in their play today.” "I rate my team 70% as they created good number of chances like Pillars, but sincerely Pillars showed why they are the big boys of the elite division." "We deserve to be where we are at the moment, but we let the players show signs of zealousness, so we are going to take the other group games as they come." FC Ebedei leads Group A with 4points from two games, followed by MFM FC with 3points and Pillars 1point.

MFM FC youth team player, Jonah Gabriel Onaah, who joined the fray in the second half of the encounter broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute after Sunshine goalkeeper spilled the ball to his path for an easy tap in.

Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made two tactical changes after the opening goal when he brought in Alashe Sheriff and Isah Akor for Samuel Akinbinu and Giscard Tchato respectively.

The two substitutes made their impact scoring a gp00p"pľ00oal each under t000000wo minutes. Akor doubled the lead in the 76th minute for the Lagos-based team off a well taking free kick after Onaah was brought down in a promising position.

Alashe netted the third goal of the match two minutes after the second when he blasted in a shot from outside the box to seal the victory for coach Ilechukwu tutored side.

MFM FC will face Kano Pillars on Sunday, November 27 at the Pitch A of the International Stadium. The game kicks off at 4pm.