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| FC Ifeanyi Ubah Celebrates a goal |
Two goals from the attacking duo of Godwin Obaje and Chijioke Alakwe in the 21st and 84th minutes respectively were all the Anambra Warriors needed to see off the Changi Boys in Matchday 27 of the Nigerian Professional Football League played on Sunday.
The technical crew led by Coach Yaw Preko made five changes to the side that lost to Rangers International FC in last Wednesday’s Oriental Derby clash with Elu Wilson, Adeleye Olamilekan, Huan John, Ngoma Luamba and Alakwe Chijioke getting the nod ahead of Maamo Joseph, Eze Stephen, Bright Onyedikachi, Medrano Tamen and Seka Pascal.
Just before the commencement of the game, Coach Yaw Preko was presented with the League Bloggers Award (LBA) plaque for emerging the best manager for the month of May while his Mentee Seka Pascal was presented with a cheque of 150 thousand Naira for the VAT Wonder goal of the Matchday 23 against ABS FC as a team of delegates from the Federal Inland Revenue Services, the sponsors were on hand to grace the game while on a sad note a minute silence was held for the departed FC IfeanyiUbah Chief Security Officer who passed away so days ago.
The encounter began on a frenetic manner with FC IfeanyiUbah in ascendancy already with Ngoma Luamba’s well headed effort coming off the upright from a Huan John’s well taken corner kick just two minutes into action. Goalkeeper Okoli was forced to make two great saves within an interval of three minutes, first in the 8th minute from Osia’s shot just outside the box off a well executed corner kick from Huan John and another in the 11th minute as he was well positioned to keep out an Obaje’s headed effort assisted by overlapping Elu Wilson.
The much anticipated goal finally came in the 21st minute after Chijioke Alakwe was harked down in the box by skipper Nasiru Sani who was booked for rough play as Obaje Godwin sent the keeper the wrong way to score from 12 yards. In the 38th minute, FC IfeanyiUbah came close to doubling the lead from a powerful headed effort from Adeleye Olamilekan which flew just inches over the upright from a Prince Aggreh’s freekick.
The Anambra Warriors were almost punished in the 41st minute as Obinna Eleje somehow capitalized on a loss ball by Msonter Tony with his effort well saved by Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was largely on holiday in the game. A Chijioke Alakwe’s effort failed to trouble the Changi Boys shotstopper as he reacted well after a good build up play between Huan John and overlapping Osia Felix with the half gradually coming to a halt after two minutes off added time.
In the second period of the game, the Anambra Warriors should have had their lead doubled in the 50th minute after a swift counter attacking move initiated by Alakwe Chijioke who passed to Huan John as the latter laid a good pass into the path of Aggreh who ballooned his effort away. Four minutes after that Godwin Obaje had a shot saved by Goalkeeper Okoli from about 35 yards from yet another good counter attacking move.The Changi Boys had a chance to restore parity as Usele Martins came close to scoring from the combined effort Bara’u Usman and Yushau Garba but Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa came to the rescue for his team. Substitute Bright Onyedikachi’s curler in the 70th minute narrowly missed target after he was teed with a good ball from Obaje Godwin for his last act of the game as he was replaced by Ikeokwu Patrick.
A commanding man of the match performance by Chijioke Alakwe was capped with a goal in the 84th minute as he rose highest to nod home a good cross from Bright Onyedikachi whose impact was felt immediately upon introduction into the game for the last piece of puzzle as the referee called time on the encounter after three minutes of time added on elapsed.
The win now elevates FC IfeanyiUbah to 6th on the log with 41 points amassed in 27 matches as they will be guests to Shagamu based Remo Stars in Matchday 28 come next weekend.
FC IFEANYIUBAH 2 (OBAJE GODWIN – 21′, ALAKWE CHIJIOKE – 84′)
KATSINA UNITED 0
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