Elite One Playoffs: Daman taps Cotonsport Closer to 18th league title
Cotonsport of Garoua have defeated west side Bamboutos FC of Mbouda in the late kick-off of today’s play-off match-ups.
Daman Abdouraman scored in the second segment to seal all three minutes for the men of Jean Baptiste Bisseck, who were made to work for it.
How it happened
The game was tied and hotly contested by the two teams up until the 30th minute when Ramses Domfack set Wassou with a pitch of a cross. Wassou caught the ball first time but couldn’t bring it down as it was always rising.
At the 44th minute, Daman Abdouraman brought out a spectacular save from Munya Benjamin on the cusp of halftime.
Cotonsport picked off where they left in the first half when Daman’s square ball found Wassou unmarked, but the youngster, hurriedly ballooned over goalkeeper Munya’s bar.
51 minutes in, Cotonsport missed another glorious chance. Wassou’s headed square for Domfack in the far post, but the wideman’s stooping header went wide.
Bamboutos’ second half substitute Benjamin Bieleu nearly became an instant hero. However, his superb solo run was matched by an athletic stop from Gabin Allambatnam.
Cotonsport finally hacked the Bamboutos defense when Wassou’s cross fell kindly for Daman, and the winger, having already missed a couple, buried in the net of the goalie, three minutes after the hour mark.
The game increased in tempo and both sides had near misses with the quarter of the game to go.
Allambatnam was on the top of his game, stopping Ekanga’s free kick at the 78th minute, after having kept out Diboto’s shot.
At the 77th minute, Aziz Bassene received a reversed ball from Wassou and the latter’s cross fell on the head of Banen who struck the upright. The follow-up from Reich Kokolo wasn’t goal bound.
Cotonsport switched on to game management and kept it 1-0 despite the onslaught from Bamboutos FC in the latter stages.
Cotonsport are a win or draw away from their 18th league title in the final play-offs game against Canon which follows on Sunday.
