Well guys, how about that?
Day 2 of our CAF Confederations Cup Campaign gave us all the shocker – Enyimba International came from behind to overturn a 2-goal deficit, earning the People’s Elephant a point against Egyptian Giants Zamalek. Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Prior to kickoff, I had read an article that seemed to amplify the magnitude of the task ahead – Enyimba had faced Egyptian teams 15 times: Ismaily (4), Al Ahly (4), Smouha (2), Zamalek (2), Pyramids FC (2), and Al Masry (1). Enyimba’s record stood thus: Matches 15, Win 3, Draw 2, Defeat 10. Goals Scored 11, Goals Conceded 24.
The lineup wasn’t surprising. However, there was a Clinton Jephtha-sized vacuum, and in his place was Prodigy Austin Onyemaechi. I’m guessing Clinton is on a national assignment (I could be wrong), and Enyimba has to find a way to deal with that. I have my reservations about that; someday we’ll discuss it.
We rarely lit the skies with our start. In fact, someone at the game said we weren’t playing like anything was at stake. And shockingly, as halftime approached, Zamalek took the lead. And while we were still trying to pinch ourselves back to reality, they doubled their lead: 2-0.
If we had deemed facing Zamalek an uphill task, try facing them with a 2-goal deficit. And, oh, add the fun fact that this club hadn’t yet scored in the Continent this season. From where I sat watching on my screen, I felt it was all over. 2-0 in the first half looked like a true pummeling was coming. I feared the worst.
But that wasn’t the way the script was written. Ifeanyi Ihemekwele attacked a long ball sandwiched between two defenders. Refusing to be left out of the party, their keeper stepped into the melee, and Ihemekwele poked the ball beyond him and into the goal. Talk about a goal literally born out of nothing!
That goal turned into the adrenaline shot the team needed. We threw off the respect we had for them and began to be more comfortable in possession. A trend we kept up with until the 2nd goal came. Ufere swapped passes with Austin Onyemaechi before unleashing a goalbound strike. The ball took a deflection that wrongfooted the goalkeeper, and we were level.
In all my years of writing this blog and supporting Enyimba, I dare say I haven’t seen such a comeback, especially against the quality of the opposition. There’s a lot to chew over in the next few days, and we will, so how about we just remind ourselves of today’s result and celebrate salvaging a draw from the jaws of defeat.
Back tomorrow.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
