Akwa United’s hope of recording three successive home wins this season went up in smoke on Sunday as they suffered their first league defeat at home this season losing 0-1 to Bayelsa United on matchday 21 at Eket Stadium.
Substitute Eyong Offem’s 77th minute strike earned Bayelsa United all three points and helped them to do the double over the 2021 champions following a 5-3 win in Yenagoa on matchday 1.
The Promise Keepers started on the front foot with Ubong Friday, Suleiman Sani and Mustapha Dan-Azumi coming close to scoring but only saw their efforts either being saved or missing the target.
The visitors grew into the game and made some good efforts at goal but were kept at bay by goalkeeper Jean Efala who made some great saves to deny them. The only goal of the game came in the 77th minute when substitute Eyong Offem raced down the right before firing a low shot into the bottom right corner of Jean Efala’s net.
Caretaker coach Umar Abdullahi introduced strikers Efa Efa and Kufre Ebong into the game in the second half in a bid to get the equalizer. Efa came close to leveling the scores only to see his header hit the crossbar and out for a goal kick. All attacking attempts by Akwa United to get back into the game were unsuccessful as the visitors claimed vital three points in Eket.
The result means that Akwa United is down to 19th position on the table with 21 points from 21 games comprising 5 wins, 6 draws and ten loses this season.
The 2021 champions will next travel to Lagos for a mid–week clash against Sporting Lagos on Wednesday.
