Peter Mandela Itodo’s exceptional efficiency within the Albanian Cup last helped Dinamo Metropolis finish a 22-year trophy drought, because the membership triumphed over Egnatia Rrogozhinë in a penalty shootout, lifting the cup for the primary time since 2003, Soccernet.ng stories.
The 21-year-old Nigerian ahead, who has been the catalyst for Dinamo Metropolis’s spectacular cup run, performed an important position in securing the membership’s 14th Albanian Cup title.
His two targets within the last, performed contained in the 12,800-capacity Elbasan Enviornment, made him the hero of the night time. Itodo’s targets had been very important within the 2-2 draw that led to a tense penalty shootout, the place Dinamo Metropolis triumphed 5-4.
Dinamo Metropolis’s journey to the ultimate was eventful and spectacular. Within the Spherical of 16, they demolished Erzeni Shijak 6-1.
This was adopted by a 4-2 mixture victory over Skënderbeu Korçë within the quarterfinals and an exhilarating 4-3 mixture win in opposition to Vllaznia Shkodër within the semifinals.
All through these matches, Itodo was on the forefront, scoring six targets in simply 4 appearances, together with a hat-trick in opposition to Erzeni Shijak, a aim in opposition to Skënderbeu, and a brace in opposition to Vllaznia.
The ultimate itself was a becoming climax to a unprecedented marketing campaign.
Dinamo Metropolis took the lead within the seventeenth minute by Itodo, just for Mali’s Saliou Guindo to equalise for Egnatia Rrogozhinë simply earlier than halftime.
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Itodo then put his facet again in entrance simply previous the hour mark, together with his eighth aim of the competitors.
Nevertheless, with the match nearing its finish, Egnatia’s Soumaila Bakayoko scored a dramatic equaliser within the ninety fifth minute, sending the sport into penalties.
Regardless of the late drama, Dinamo Metropolis held their nerve within the shootout, clinching the victory and ending their lengthy look ahead to a cup triumph.
Itodo, who completed because the competitors’s prime scorer with eight targets, was instrumental all through the match, edging out Flamurtari’s Vasil Shkurtaj by three targets to say the golden boot.
This victory is a significant increase for Dinamo Metropolis, who’re additionally in competition for the league title.
After ending third within the common season, the membership now faces Vllaznia Shkodër within the Championship semifinals, with a possible league title in sight.
Itodo’s goalscoring kind, having completed because the fourth-highest scorer within the league with 12 targets, might be essential as Dinamo Metropolis goals for additional glory.
The Cup victory additionally marks a promising begin to Itodo’s profession on the membership.
Having joined Dinamo Metropolis simply final summer season from Luzi 2008, his transition into the Kategoria Superiore has been seamless, and he now finds himself on the coronary heart of a workforce pushing for home success.
Who’s Mandela Itodo?
Born in Ajegunle, Lagos, to folks from Benue State, Mandela Itodo’s soccer journey started at a younger age by native golf equipment and academies.
His skilled profession started at Albanian membership Luzi 2008, the place he signed forward of the 2023–24 season.
In his debut season, Itodo scored 19 targets in 33 matches, ending because the league’s prime scorer regardless of Luzi’s relegation.
He joined Dinamo Metropolis in Might 2024, signing a three-year contract with the membership, and has already made a big influence in his first season.