By Jude Agbeyeke
Young goal machine at the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Chinaza Augustine scored five goals in the last group game against Cross River in a Group A encounter at the Uyo Township Stadium to send Abia State into the semi-finals of the women’s football event as Abia State walloped Cross River State 5-2 on Friday.
The pacy striker nicknamed after current Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen opened scoring in the fifth minute. She outpaced her markers before placing the ball beyond the Cross River goalkeeper.
Attempts to increase the tally were thwarted by the Cross River defence line.
Having posted a solid defensive play, Cross Rivers started venturing forward and their quest paid off as Rose Emmanuel drew her team level in the 30th minute after powering past the Abia defence line before slamming home.
The equalizer stung Abia into action as they came out in numbers pushing their opponents hard until another breakaway run from Chinaza left the Cross River defence in sixes and sevens with the striker flipping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net in the 39th minute.
Three minutes later she was back again as she fired the ball into the far corner despite being brought down inside the vital area.
Cross River not to be undone resumed the second half in high spirits and it paid off as Peace Ewa coolly finished off a through-pass to reduce the tally.
Chinaza was not done as she increased the tally barely five minutes later before putting the game beyond Cross River as Abia ran out 5-2 winners to secure a semi-final spot.
Chinaza has now scored eight goals in two matches at the ongoing Games and is in the running to finish top scorer in women’s football.
