Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia pummeled Miracle Football Club of Umunneochi 10-0 to qualify for the final of the Abia State Football Association Cup.
Antoine Desouza made history, becoming the first player to score five goals in a seminar final game of the FA Cup since the creation of Abia State in 1991.
Desouza’s strike partner, Samson Obi and substitute Paschal Nwabueze scored a brace each while Uche Moses completed the rout with his first goal of the season for the rampaging Warriors at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.
Coach Bethel Oji made only one change to the side that beat Enyimba Feeders in the semi final, replacing Emmanuel Onu with Meme Okike and it was the latter that assisted the first goal for the Warriors.
The Umuahia based side took the game to their non-league opponents right from the blast of the whistle. With Samson Obi and Antoine Desouza bullying the opponents’ defenders.
Within seven minutes it was 1-0. Moses Uche had delivered a fine corner kick, Wotlai floated the ball towards Meme who nodded back into play for Antoine to head into the net, for the opener.
Antoine then turned provider when his through ball was met by Samson Obi, who made no mistake to slam the ball into the net for Abia Warriors second goal.
A minute later, Antoine dispossessed an opponent in the middle of the pack, finds his partner-in-crime, Obi, who beats his marker and squares to Antoine to give Abia Warriors a 3-0 lead.
After 24 minutes of play, it was 4-0 to Abia Warriors.
Moses Uche delivered a cross off a free kick and Samson Obi lept the highest to head home.
At this point, the opponents coach made four substitutions to stem the ugly tide, but the Warriors were only getting started.
The introduction of Paschal Nwabueze, Arinze Ogbonna and Chuks Edward in the second stanza compounded the opponents woes.
Within two minutes into his introduction, Nwabueze utilized his nuisance value, racing ahead of his marker from a through pass, and smashed a shot from a tight angle which the keeper parried to the part of the on rushing Antoine Desouza who tapped into an empty net. 5-0 it was for Abia Warriors after 47 minutes of play.
In the 61st minute, Jerry Ogu found time and space to overlap, and sent a beauty of a delivery for Moses Uche to score from close range for Warriors’ sixth goal of the match.
After that goal, Coach Bethel Oji brought on Ayodele Ezekiel for Ojonugwa Adejoh and it was the former that orchestrated the next goal for the Warriors in the 68th minute.
A long ball from captain of the day, Goodluck Ozioma, was met by Ayodele, who raced into the opponents vital area, and squared the ball to Paschal to make it 7-0.
Paschal Nwabueze scored his second of the match and Abia Warriors’ 8th goal of the day after a swift combination of passes.
The Warriors were not done, after 78 minutes, Miracle FC’s nightmare pounced again, Antoine was at the end of Chuks Edward’s cross to make it 9-0.
There was still time for the inevitable to happen after 89 minutes of play, when Antoine Desouza tapped in Jerry Ogu’s cross into the net for his 5th goal and ensured a 10-0 victory for Abia Warriors FC.
Up next for Abia Warriors is a final showdown against Nigeria champions Enyimba International Football Club of Aba.
