Akwa UTD sinks Lobi Stars to extend unbeaten run

Mfon Patrick

Akwa United continued their impressive run of form in the Nigeria Professional Football League with a resounding 3-0 victory over Lobi Stars on Sunday, which extended their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Three first-half goals — two by Mfon Udoh and one by Ikechukwu Nwani — capped a superlative performance by Coach Kennedy Boboye’s team and helped them secure their 9th victory of the season – their seventh win in nine home games.

Akwa United went into the game on the back of six unbeaten games, which included last week’s victory at MFM — their second away win of the season.

Coach Boboye made just one change to the start team that won in Lagos last weekend. Mid-season signing Nasiru Jibril made his debut. He started in place of assistant captain Ubong Friday, who was left out of the squad.

Both sides started brightly, but it was Lobi Stars who had the first attempt at goal when Ossy Martins’ long-range strike rattled the crossbar barely two minutes into the game.

The home side quickly got themselves into the game and took control of proceedings with some fast-attacking play.

Their efforts paid off in the 17th minute when Nasiru Jibril freed centre-back Sampson Gbadebo down the right channel. The defender made his way through the defense before sending a beautiful low cross into the box for Ikechukwu Nwani to tap home from close range.

Coach Boboye’s men continued to dominate and doubled their advantage six minutes later through striker Mfon Udoh, who fired a left-footed strike beyond Aliko Mustapha in the Lobi Stars goal after an intelligent first-time play by Ndifreke Effiong.

Moments later, enterprising Seth Mayi sent a delightful long ball forward to Ndifreke Effiong. The striker played it first time to Ikechukwu Nwani, who took too much time to sort himself out before being bundled to the ground in the box by Aliko Mustapha.

The goalkeeper got away with the reckless challenge, though, as the referee waved play on.

United kept pressing and creating scoring chances but were let down by poor finishing. In the 31st minute, Ikechukwu Nwani should have scored his second of the game after Seth Mayi located him with a wonderful cut-back, but the striker blasted his effort high over the bar.

The Promise Keepers’ persistent pressure paid off again deep into first-half stoppage time. Goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka sent a long ball into the opponents’ half, Ndifreke Effiong rose highest and directed his header towards Ikechukwu Nwani.

The striker composed himself and teed up Mfon Udoh, who timed his run to perfection to slot it beyond Mustapha for his second goal of the game — and his sixth of the season — as referee Kazim Abdulsalam brought the relatively one-sided first half to a close.

Lobi Stars stepped up their game after the re-start and had a good opportunity to reduce the deficit when Ossy Martins was put through in a one-on-one situation, but goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka was quick to come off his line to make a fantastic save.

In the 58th minute, Ndifreke Effiong thought he had increased his team’s lead when he headed Mfon Udoh’s curling delivery from a corner towards the top right corner, but Aliko Mustapha guessed right to save it from going in.

Sustained moment of pressure saw Lobi Stars goalkeeper Aliko Mustapha make two brilliant saves in a space of five minutes. First, Mayi cut through the middle and beautifully exchanged with Effiong to locate Udoh but Mustapha came out of his area to clear the danger.

Seth Mayi, who was brilliant all evening, freed Mfon Udoh with a clever pass in the 68th minute, the striker controlled it smartly and fired at goal. His attempt looked destined for the bottom corner, but Aliko dived full stretch to keep it out.

With 19 minutes left to play, Effiong recieved a nice pass from Mayi inside the box. The striker fired a superb strike at goal. The ball appeared to be heading towards the bottom right corner, but it accidentally hit Udoh — who was in front of goal – before going behind.

Towards the end of the game, coach Boboye withdrew defender Olisa Ndah and Nwani and replaced them with Abass Sadick and mid-season signing Hamisu Saleh. Moments after coming on, Hamisu Saleh misjudged a long ball into the area and Ossy Martins raced towards it, but Adewale Adeyinka pulled off a timely save on the edge of the box to claim his eighth clean sheet in 12 matches.

With a minute before the end of the match, Abass Sadick missed a clear opportunity to add to his team’s tally after being put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper by Mayi’s clever pass.

The striker, while trying to dribble his way into the box, successfully dragged the goalkeeper Mustapha out of his area. In a desperate attempt to make a save, the goalkeeper handled the ball outside the box and was rightly sent off. Lobi Stars, who had exhausted all their five substitutions, called on Osimanga Duke to take over Mustapha’s role.

Coach Boboye introduced Dare Ojo and Marshal Johnson in place of Mfon Udoh and Ndifreke Effiong, and the duo did just enough to close out the game as Akwa United strolled to their ninth victory of the season and move to third on the NPFL standings with 32 points from 17 matches, with a game in hand.

The Promise Keepers will next travel to Lagos for a match-day 19 fixture against Sunshine Stars, who were banished from Akure to Lagos by the league organisers.