Lobi Stars complete comeback to edge Akwa United News

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Lobi Stars complete comeback to edge Akwa United

By Daily Sports on March 31, 2017

Lobi Stars had to battle from a goal down at their Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi to defeat Akwa United 2-1 in Thursday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match.

Moses Ebiye got the first goal of the game to put Akwa United in front before their hosts clawed their way back through strikes from Dennis Nya and Anthony Okpotu.

Akwa United head coach Abdu Maikaba decided to start with a very attacking line-up that included offensive players in Ubong Friday, Musa Newman, Christian Pyagbara and Moses Ebiye but their leading scorer Alhassan Ibrahim was not listed for this game.

In Lobi’s startlist, there was no Kingsley Eduwo who is leading scorer for them, but Anthony Okpotu and experienced David Tyavkase got starting places.

It did not take long for the first of the three goals scored in the match to be witnessed. Five minutes after kickoff, Ebiye opened scoring to give Akwa United the lead.

If Lobi needed something to spur them on, it was Ebiye’s goal and in quick succession Uchenna Eze stung the palms of Akwa United goalkeeper Emmanuel Iwu and Tyavkase’s shot was blocked by desperate defending by the away team.

Lobi Stars just kept pressing high up against Akwa United and Shehu Nasiru was next to have a pop at goal for the hosts but missed target.

Eze had a sniff at Akwa United’s goal and it was Iwu who denied him once again just before the half hour.

On 30 minutes, Akwa United conceded a spot kick. Semiu Liadi illegally upended Sunday Akleche in the box and referee Shittu Abdullahi had the easiest of task to just point to the spot.

Two minutes later, it was not Okpotu but Dennis Nya who took the spot kick and made no error to dispatch the ball into the net past Iwu from 11 metres.

Things went bad for Akwa United as one of their attacking quartet left the pitch injured and his place was taken by Nura Usman.

The first half produced no more than the two goals between the two teams.

Twelve minutes into the business end of the game, Okpotu popped up inside of Akwa United's box to head past Iwu and that represented a turnaround for Lobi Stars.

Lobi saw out their lead to move into sixth place from 11th while Akwa United dropped out of the top-10 in the NPFL table. © supersport.com

•Photo shows Lobi Stars players.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 31, 2017