Akwa United maintained their unbeaten home record in the Nigeria Professional Football League with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Go Round FC of Omoku in a rescheduled Matchday 22 game at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Wednesday.
Mid-season signing Paul Obata scored the all important goal in the 28th minute when he slammed Ifeanyi Ede’s delectable cross into the back of the net.
The Promise Keepers made five changes to the team that lost in Maiduguri. Captain Otobong Effiong, Godspower Igudia, Michael Ibe, Aniekeme Asuquo and Paul Obata were given the nod while Ubong Friday, Ezekiel Bassey and Etim Mathew started on the bench.
Coach Abdu Maikaba’s team lost the first leg 1-0 in Omoku in January and were determine to avenge their defeat and succeeded by claiming all three points.
From the blast of the referee’s whistle, both sides engaged each other and created brilliant goal scoring chances but failed to put them away.
A moment of brilliance from the home side saw Gabriel Wassa and Cyril Olisema combine well to release Ifeanyi Ede who delivered a sumptuous cross beyond Go Round goalkeeper Victor Obiowo for Obata to score from close range.
Efforts by the visitors to get back on level teams were successfully put under check by a well coordinated defense line marshalled by Otobong Effiong, Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Godspower Igudia and Gabriel Wassa who provided a good cover for goalkeeper Emmanuel Iwu.
The visitors had a great chance to get back into the game moments before half time but Adelani Adeseun’s long range strike crashed against the crossbar as the hosts went into the break with a 1-0 advantage.
The second half had the same complexion as the first, as both sides created some good chances but wasted them. Ifeanyi Ede, Michael Ibe and Cyril Olisema were guilty of missing glorious opportunities to increased their team’s goal tally.
Substitutes Ubong Friday, Ezekiel Bassey and Victor Mbaoma all made good attempts at goal, and Mbaoma was unlucky not to have scored after his goal bound shot was cleared off the line by the Akobundo Ebuka.
The victory is the Promise Keepers’ ninth win of the season and their eighth in ten home games with two draws, which helped them safeguard their impressive home record in the NPFL.
The Uyo based side who are sixth on the log are eight points behind league leaders Lobi Stars, but still have a home game in hand against CAF Confederation Cup campaigners Enyimba International.
Akwa United will next face Flying Sports Academy in the semi final of the 2018 Akwa Ibom State FA Cup on Friday.
