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| ABS vs Ifeanyi Ubah |
Two goals from two Ivoriens was all Ifeanyi Ubah needed to beat Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC 2-0 in a Match Day 23 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter on Wednesday in Nnewi.
ABS Ilorin FC Coach, Henry Makinwa, made five changes to his squad that beat Niger Tornadoes of Minna 2-1 on Sunday in Ilorin in a Match Day 22. Nurudeen Mudashir came in for Yinka Adewale and Chukwuebuka Anaekwe return from a game suspension to replace Lukman Hameed while Abubakar Chindo replaced Arinze Oyota with Martin Ossy playing in place of Deemua Best.
The Saraki Boys held the Anambra Warriors for 27 minutes before Yaya Kone scored from a rebound in the 28th minute. Nurudeen Mudashir who was handed his debut for the Saraki Boys had parried a Godwin Obaje’s attempt towards Kone’s path who just applied force to the ball with his knee to score the first goal of the game.
The ABS defenders failed to clear the line leaving helpless Mudashir to still went for the ball which was too quick to get his hands to. After the goal, the Saraki Boys took the game to the host but were wasteful moving forward.
Stephen Eze and Adeleye Olamilekan were resilient throughout the duration of the encounter killing all the Saraki Boys scanty chances in the first half.
The Henry Makinwa wards came out stronger in the second 45 minutes with Drissa Bamba called to actions for most parts of the first 25 minutes in the second stanza.
Ernest Governor should have scored in the 51th minute to make it 1-1 when he was left unmarked to connect Samuel Oyedeji’s corner kick but he only nodded wide.
The introduction of Chigozirim Metu and Akinbo Oluwasegun added bite to the Saraki Boys attack, the former Ikorodu United attacker was always dangerous moving forward.
Ebuka Franklin should have stopped Bright Onyedikachi from gaining access to his territory but failed to do so to pave way for the second goal by Pascal Seka in the 58th minute.
In the 78th minute, both Mohammed Mohammed and Anaekwe arrived at the right time to connect a Metu’s beautiful ball in but there was confusion on who to take the shot before they lost the ball to the Ifeanyi Ubah defenders.
Four minutes later, another opportunity came the Saraki Boys way but they failed to utilized it when Mohammed’s through ball find Ossy in the Anambra Warriors’ box only for the former Ifeanyi Ubah attacker to miss his steps to tap home to reduce the deficit.
Speaking after the game, Makinwa, said his team lost to a brighter side which had a better day than the Ilorin based team.
“We made two silly mistakes and we paid for it.”I told them at half time to fight for the salaries and not to concede more goals. “I think that motivated them and they came out better in the 2nd half” Makinwa said.
The Saraki Boys will now face Lobi Stars of Makurdi in match day 24 in Ilorin on Sunday.
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