The 2018 Bet9jaSociaLiga playoffs lived up to its hype as Bravos Knights and SCN Ladies booked their places in the grand finale following a brilliant day of football at the Vocational Center in Isheri, Magodo, on Saturday.
Bravos defeated Raineri 4-1 in the Mainland Coneference while SCN reaffirmed their superiority over defending champions, Saints Ladies, in the Women’s Liga with a penalty shootout win.
Knights Banish Raineri and Their Ghosts
In the Men’s Liga, Bravos Knights made mincemeat of their Mainland Conference counterparts, Raineri FC, in what was indeed a one-sided affair as they proved just too strong for the Ghosts in their Conference final.
Adebayo Abdullahi netted a brace, with further goals from Salami Sheriff and second half substitute, Ibitoye Olatunyi while Omor’s first half equaliser turned out nothing but a consolation for Raineri.
Earlier on, Raineri saw off the challenge of their nemesis, The Guns fc, when they beat them 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw after extra time in their Conference Playoffs.
Both sides renewed their rivalry with Guns showing why they had never lost to the Ghosts before as they dominated that game from start to finish. However, the Bullet Boys failed to turn their dominance into goals despite creating the chances to do just that.
The tie would go into penalties, with Raineri emerging victors and setting up a battle in their Conference final against. It was their first ever win over Guns, but their celebrations were cut short by Knights, who humiliated them in a repeat of last season’s final.
Citizens Fairytale In Heartbreaking End
In the Island Conference semifinal, defending champions were just within one kick away from elimination as they clashed with Citizens for the third time this season. But with both sides having won a game apiece in their previous two matches, which both ended 2-1, they had to settle for a goalless affair this time, the second of the day in SociaLigaPlayoffs.
It was a game the Proud Citizen were the better side, and created the better chances, especially in the second half of extra time, but like in the Mainland Conference, the game would be decided by a penalty shootout. Citizens went on to miss two of their spot kicks, while Saints missed one for a 6-5 victory.
SCN Knockout Champions Saints Ladies
In the Women’s Liga, for the third time this campaign, defending champions, Saints Ladies failed to get one over SCN on the pitch. SCN had won the previous two 2-0 each, but had one of those results canceled after they fielded an ineligible player.
However, with more at stake on Saturday, one would have thought the champions will raise their game but it was not meant to be as SCN came out tops once again. After a 1-1 draw after extra time, the game went into penalties with the Foundation Ladies keeping their composure for a deserved 5-4 victory and a place in the final against the already qualified Knights Ladies.
Dannaz, Saints Final Suffer Delay
Meanwhile, unlike in the Mainland Conference final, the Island final suffered a setback as the match between champions, Saints FC, and newbies, Dannaz FC, was suspended.
With Dannaz leading 1-0 thanks to an own goal, the officials decided to suspend the encounter with 15 minutes left to play due to floodlights issues at the venue.
According to the officials, both sides will meet in a yet to be agreed day to play out the remaining 15 minutes with the winner booking a place in the grand finale against Bravos Knights slated for the impressive CIS stadium in Lekki.