FA Cup: 10-man academy boys Beyond Limits reach final after routine win over seniors Remo Stars

Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Remo Stars were knocked out of the State FA Cup after suffering a penalty shootout defeat to their own academy team Beyond Limits.

The Sky Blue Stars looked to be cruising into the final when Hadi Haruna cancelled out Chukwudi Isaac's early opener for Beyond Limits after just 20 minutes.

However, it was Beyond Limits who were forced to play over half an hour with 10 men after one of their players Adebayo Dikko was sent off on 58 minutes.

The depleted academy side's resilience ultimately proved too much for Remo in the end as Beyond Limits held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

It was Remo's talented academy product Farouq Ogundare who set up the opening goal, showing his creative quality to tee up Isaac's sixth-minute strike.

Haruna's equaliser looked to have spared Remo's blushes, but they failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage once Beyond Limits went down to 10 men.

The young guns, comprised of Remo's brightest youth prospects, held firm to take the tie to a shootout, where only Adams Olamilekan missed from the spot to send the underdogs through.

The result marks an embarrassing day for the NPFL high-flyers, who were eliminated from cup competition by their own academy side.

Head coach Daniel Ogunmodede will likely face serious questions over his team's inability to get the job done against younger, ostensibly inferior opposition down a man.

For Beyond Limits and the likes of Ogundare, however, this represents a reputation-making display that proves they have bright futures ahead.

Remo must quickly regroup ahead of a crucial stretch of league games if they are to maintain their push for a first-ever NPFL title.