By Basil K Mbuye
It was a sad day for Limbe Football Club Association, LIFCA, as an 89th minute’s superb strike from CINYOUDEV’s 15-year-old left-back Joel Achu Mbeng sent the star-studded Limbe side crashing out of the Preliminary Round of the Southwest Cup of Cameroon.
Going into the encounter with the LIFCA seen as favourites by bookmakers and CINYODEV as greenhorns in the game, what happened on the pitch was however the reverse.
The first half of the mouthwatering encounter ended with both sides failing to find the back of the net after 45 minutes of high hostilities.
However, the second segment of the game was the most interesting as it started with fireworks from both sides. Playing some six minutes into the second segment, it was CINYODEV that break the deadlock from the penalty spot after marksman Emmanuel Agbor Agbor sent LIFCA’s Joseph Bienvenu the wrong direction to send the ball kissing the back of the net.
However, their celebration was shortlived as four minutes after, LIFCA got the equaliser after the introduction of Ronald Lane Lakem. The introduction of Lane saw LIFCA taking control of the game as they squandered several chances.
The goal to separate both sides was gotten at the 89th minute after 15-year-old left-back Joel Achu Mbeng in an offensive counterplay curled the ball with his right leg to LIFCA’s goalkeeper Joseph Bienvenu helpless as the ball kisses the back of the net.
The goal of fewer touches and greater impact thrilled the population that came to watch the game to rush into the pitch to carry the young left-back after the superb performance.
Few minutes after the goal efforts from LIFCA to get back into the game all ended fruitlessly as the referee’s blast of the whistle meant the star-studded Limbe said crashed out of the Cup of Cameroon.
