Keji Adeniyi-Olonade’s late-game heroics secures 1-0 win for UNB

By Thomas Becker

Keji Adeniyi-Olonade (Nottingham, UK) silenced the home crowd after delivering a definitive blow in extra time that secured a 1-0 win for the UNB Reds.

As time was expiring, Adeniyi-Olonade chased the ball to the 18-yard-box, where he sidestepped the sliding keeper and skipped a shot in the back of the net.

"The whole game it was difficult to find space in their defence. But I saw Ollie on the ball, I saw a gap in the defence, and I just knew I had to make that run in the last minute to get the goal," said the Subway Player of the Game. 

For the Reds (3-1-1), it turned a game that was destined to end in a nil-nil draw into one where they took three points and distanced themselves from teams in the bottom half of the standings, including the UPEI Panthers (0-4-1)

"It's a huge win for us," Adeniyi-Olonade said. "Historically, coming to UPEI it's just a difficult place to play for UNB. But it was important for us to bounce back after yesterday's loss."

Prior to the winning goal, the Reds' best chance came in the 57th minute when Francoise Maurice (North Vancouver, BC) curled a pass to Ryan Jetten (Kanata, ON) near the edge of the six-yard box where he volleyed it off the hands of goalkeeper Evan Couturier (Lower Coverdale, NB). 

In the 72nd minute, UPEI's Kasper Lasia (Ottawa, ON) took a free kick and delivered a strong pass to Nathan Chow (Campbell River, BC), whose header attempt was snuffed out by goalkeeper Louis-Charles Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC) with the diving save. 

That set the stage for Adeniyi-Olonade, whose late-game heroics was the difference in the game. 

The Panthers search for their first win of the season Thursday night when the travel to Wolfville to take on the Acadia Axemen, while the Reds return home to face the Mount Allison Mounties.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan