Victoria United Dismantles PWD Bamenda in Drama-Filled Season Opener
The Elite One season roared to life at the Limbe Centenary Stadium in a match defined by clinical spot-kicks. Victoria United made an emphatic opening statement by securing a 3-0 victory over PWD Bamenda, though the scoreline only tells half the story of a fixture dominated by the referee’s whistle and controversial calls.
The deadlock persisted until the 55th minute when the hosts were awarded their first penalty of the afternoon. Brayann Tchana stepped up to the mark and calmly converted, shifting the momentum firmly in favor of Victoria United. As the pressure mounted, the match turned into a showcase for second half substitute Maurice Bill Alex Diboto. The former Bamboutos man displayed remarkable nerves of steel by converting two subsequent penalties in the 70th and 90th minutes, ensuring that all three of the home side’s goals came from twelve yards out.
The visitors saw two potential goals from Elwood Banter Talikong denied by the officiating crew, strikes that could have fundamentally altered the trajectory of the game. Their frustration boiled over into a flurry of bookings, with David Alaba, Fabrice Ndeh Nsoh, Elwood Banter Talikong, Stephane Noah, and Ning Che Bong Kadad all receiving yellow cards. The situation reached a breaking point when Nfor Godwill was sent off with a straight red card, leaving PWD depleted and unable to mount a comeback.
By the final whistle, Victoria United, 2023 Elite One champions had successfully navigated a volatile season opener to claim all three points. For PWD Bamenda, the match serves as a harsh lesson as they look to regroup for the challenges ahead in the Elite One campaign.
