Nigerian-born midfielder suffers playoff heartbreak with Chesterfield ahead of return to Arsenal

Arsenal-owned midfielder Tim Akinola has ended his loan spell at Chesterfield with a heartbreaking playoff loss on penalties to Notts County in the National League playoff final at Wembley on Saturday. 
 

Chesterfield and Nott County faced off for a place in the English Football League, with the Magpies winning 4-3 on penalties. 

Akinola was initially named on the bench but entered the game as a substitute with a minute left on the clock. 

Andrew Dallas gave Chesterfield a dream start when he converted a penalty to open the scoring in the sixth minute and they held on to their slender lead until the 88th minute when John Bostock equalized, which sent the game to extra time. 

Armando Dobra picked out the top corner to restore Chesterfield's one-goal advantage three minutes into extra time but Notts County fought back again, scoring another equalizer through Rúben Rodrigues in the 108th minute. 

Notts County won the shootout to clinch promotion to the Football League, four years after they were relegated to the National League for the first time. 

Including the playoffs, Akinola made twenty seven league appearances for the Spireites, including ten starts. 

The Nigerian-born midfielder stlil has a year left on his contract with Arsenal whom he joined from Huddersfield in 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com