Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo: Susplan edge Agad to stay on course

A last-gasp goal by Sani Umar helped Susplan to a crucial 6 – 5 1/2 win against Agad to keep their hope alive in the UNICEF Cup at the ongoing 2016 Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament holding at the Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club, Kaduna.

Also, Titans/STL defeated Spring Villes 8-2 to inch closer to the final with Halifa Ibrahim masterminding their impressive outing.

The match watched by a huge crowd including the Emir of Bauchi, HRH Dr.  Rilwanu Sulieman Adamu, among other dignitaries,   had Sheyi Tinubu (-1), son of former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu opened scoring for Titans but it was three-goaler Ibrahim who ran the show scoring the bulk of the goals to brighten the Titans chances of a place in Sunday’s final in the UNICEF Cup which is featuring 15 teams.

Friday’s other matches saw Iyatu Farms beat Hamdan 8-2 while Valda got the better of their clash with Seamans 6-5.

Susplan, who narrowly lost 6 1/2 – 5 to Titan /STL in their first match, began the march on a half-goal deficit courtesy of their handicap superiority and drew the first blood through Kwame Issa’s 30 yard shot to head to the second chukka on an advantage.

Munir Suleman (-1), Ibrahim Audu (+2) and Sani Umar (1) complete Susplan line up but Agad comprising Nabil Dantata(0) Sadiq Dantata (0), Nura Shamaki (+1) and Adamu Yaro (+3) retook the lead through Sadik but three-goaler Issa struck again.

However, two quick-fire goals by Sadik and Yaro helped Agad to take control of the tough match going to the third chukka with a 3 1/2 – 2 scoreline.

The penultimate chukka was equally explosive with Audu scoring for Susplan to stay inches close but again, Yaro,  once a five-goaler, find his way through to make scores 4 1/2 – 3 in favour of Agad.

Suleman scored the first goal of the last chukka running towards a loose ball and finishing with a low shot from 15 yards to spark a frenzy finale with scores at 4 1/2 – 4 and despite another goal by Shamaki which seems to have wrapped up the tie for Agad, two late goals inside a minute – the last of which came at the final seconds proved the difference.

Three matches are on the card on Saturday which is the penultimate day of action in the UNICEF Cup with Niyya Farms taking on MR Steam.  Jericho will also keep a date with Almat while Agad confront Seamans.