Limbe, Cameroon – In a highly contested encounter at the Limbe Centenary Stadium, ISOHSA and Eding Sport FC played out a goalless draw as the MTN Elite 2 championship entered matchday 3. The encounter on Saturday, December 28, saw both sides display resilience and defensive discipline as neither side could manage to break the deadlock.

The draw leaves Eding Sport still searching for its first victory in the championship, while ISOHSA has picked up four points, from a possible six, one win and a draw. ISOHSA entered the match buoyed by a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tonnerre Yaoundé on matchday 2, while Eding Sport was coming off a 1-1 stalemate against Bafmeng United.

Despite multiple chances, both teams failed to capitalize on key chances, as the two teams went away with a point apiece. The draw was also particularly significant for ISOHSA as this was their first point against Eding Sport in their last 3 matches. Last season, Eding Sport defeated ISOHSA 4-0 at home and 2-0 in ISOHSA’s backyard.

A Battle for Supremacy

The game kicked off with Eding Sport asserting pressure on ISOHSA as both sides felt each other early on. Nebamkia Peter Paul had the first opportunity in the game for Eding Sport but shot above the goalpost of ISOHSA. The first meaningful opportunity for ISOHSA came at 38 minutes, with star player Arrey Jefter having a shot on target. The ISOHSA number 10 showed a glimpse of his brilliance during the game but no end result.

Despite the late ISOHSA’s dominance in possession, Eding Sport held firm, ensuring the first half ended goalless. The second half saw both teams increase their intensity in search of a breakthrough. ISOHSA came close to scoring in the 65th minute when substitute Alfred Mbita had a thunderous strike on goal but goalkeeper Gilles Emmanuel was equal to the strike.

A few minutes later, ISOHSA had another opportunity to take the lead with Ashu Brice but his strike was just wide. ISOHSA’s attempts to unlock Eding’s compact defence continued to prove futile, while the visitors struggled to convert their counterattacking opportunities into goals as the match ended goalless at full time.

What the coaches said

Speaking after the game, ISOHSA head coach Joseph Mbock Maput praised his team’s effort but acknowledged the missed chances. He said: “I would say my guys, they followed the instructions. The game was good, but we didn’t score. They missed all their goal opportunities, but it means that we have to go back to our drawing board to work on that.”

“We prepared well because we knew that Edding Sport has been giving us a very hard time, especially last season. They won us in Yaoundé 4-0, they won us in Limbe 2-0, and this time around, we decided to turn things around. Although it didn’t work out well, our preparation was good against Edding Sport.”

“Eding Sport coach, Jean-Pierre Fiala said: “We can be very proud because since we started, we had a foul on the first day because we had an administrative problem. And the second game, we didn’t score, and this is the third. But I am very proud of the kids because they held on until the end. Honestly, we could have won the game.”

“But apart from that, I think we got a point, and we have to be proud. I am very proud because I have a lot of kids who play tonight’s game. We got a point, and we could have lost. But we held on, and I congratulate the kids who held on despite our reduced effectiveness.”

The draw leaves ISOHSA with 4 points after 3 days of play, while Eding Sport has recorded 2 points. However, they’ll need consistency to remain in contention for promotion to the Elite 1 Championship.

What is next?

The next round of fixtures promises more exciting action as both teams aim to bolster their campaigns. ISOHSA will host Djiko FC in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive encounter at the Limbe Centenary Stadium. Eding Sport FC, meanwhile, will face Union Sportive of Abong-Mbang in a match that could define their trajectory this season.

ISOHSA and Eding Sport will thus need to address their respective shortcomings to strengthen their campaigns. For ISOHSA, maintaining its unbeaten streak and sharpening its attacking efficiency are crucial. Meanwhile, Eding Sport must turn draws into wins to build momentum and challenge for promotion.