Tiko United almost saw red on sunday in the hands of Astres football club of Douala when they pulled a last minute equaliser to clinch a 2-2 draw at the Tiko town during the fourth playing day of the MTN Elite one championship in a « clash of Brazillians ». Consequently,the Samba Boys have lost their lost their leadership position and are two points short of leaders, Cotonsport of Garoua and Sable of Batie.
After their impressive 2-1 win over Canon sportive of Yaounde last week at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium, the Samba Boys were looking poised to continue with that good run of form against Astres but the grapes turned sour for the home team when they began trailing by a goal to nil just in the opening segments of the game through a converted penalty by Momasso. Physically present in all air borne duels during the first 45 minutes of the encounter, Astres maintained this lead till break and would have even being up by two or three goals of not of the naivety of their strikers, Mimb and Momasso.
Upon resumption, the Tiko dwellers took the bulls by the horn and their efforts paid off at the 47th minute when playmaker, Agbor Kevin levelled scores and gave the home crowd something to gnash their teeth with. With the crowd reawakened after, the Samba boys were pushed to produced their beautiful Brazilian play to the discontentment of headcoach for Astres, Emmanuel Ndoumbe Bosso who immediately orchestrated two substitutions which will pay off later at the 55th minute when Ncha drove home from close range a beautiful shot to beat pass goalkeeper Ebere Chinobi for Tiko United for Astres to take the lead in this encounter for the second time.
Despite the introduction of Nkafu in place of Osita and Moumie in place of Ake AMBENO, Astres beautifully contained Tiko United until the dying minutes of the game when Miniyah Angah headed home the equaliser for Tiko united after a momentary error from goalkeeper Kalati. The Samba boys saved themselves from another home defeat in the hands of Astres after this same team humbled them two zero last year at the Tiko Town green during the return leg semi finals of the cup of Cameroon.
By Francis AJUMANE in Tiko
