TOP-THREE CHASING AKWA UNITED PICK UP 14TH WIN
TOP-THREE CHASING AKWA UNITED PICK UP 14TH WIN
Akwa United came from behind to beat Nasarawa United 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday, and temporaliy dislodge MFM FC from second place.
Aminu Kadir put the visitors in front, but goals from Ubong Friday and Christian Pyagbara earned Akwa a 14th league win of the season.
The early stages of the game saw Nasarawa United put pressure on their hosts, with Thomas Zenke exposing Chigozie Chikwelu’s relative lack of pace.
Akwa, though, should have taken the lead when Musa Newman’s pass found Pyagbara. The former Enyimba man coolly controlled the ball but fired well over the cross bar from close range.
Nine minutes later, goalkeeper Oloronke Ojo spilled Manga Mohammed’s freekick, and Aminu Kadir scrambled home the loose ball.
The Solid Miners’ celebration had barely died down when Ubong Friday headed in Ifeanyi Ifeanyi’s cornerkick to level scores- and three minutes after the restart, Pyagbara slammed home from close range after goalkeeper Ayeleso Suraj spilled Cyril Olisema’s shot.
Akwa thought they had extended their lead when Olisema smashed home from close range, but for the referee to disallow the goal for offside.
The tempo slowed down thereafter, and the Uyo side held on to secure their win.
The victory saw Abdu Maikaba’s side temporarily move into second-place before MFM FC laboured to take back the spot with a 3-2 win over Katsina United on Monday.
The Promise keepers next game is a rescheduled fixture away to Rivers United on Wednesday at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium. That would be followed by a potentially tough visit to Maiduguri for a matchday 32 clash against seventh-placed El-Kanemi Warriors on Sunday, July 30.
Nasarawa United, on the other hand, slipped one spot to 9th position with 44 points. Kabiru Dogo’s side will host eight-placed Niger Tornadoes at the Lafia City stadium on Sunday.
Match statistics
Corners: 6-6
Yellow: 1-2
Red: 0-0
Goals: 2-1
Subs: 2-3