By Daily Sports on March 3, 2017

 Nasarawa United claimed their third win of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when they edged Akwa United 1-0 at the Lafia City Stadium on Thursday.

Adamu Hassan scored the winning goal that helped Nasarawa United earn a first league win against Akwa United since mid-June 2015.

Rabiu Shehu, Aminu Kadir and Philip Auta who started for Nasarawa United over the weekend in their 0-2 loss at El-Kanemi were dropped to the bench by Nasarawa United head coach Kabiru Dogo. Their places in the startlist were taken by Thomas Zenke, Douglas Achiv and Emmanuel Makama.

Akwa United head coach Abdu Maikaba made just a goalkeeping switch from their 11 that won 3-1 against Abia Warriors last Saturday. Emmanuel Iwu made way for Ismaila Shagari.

On 10 minutes, Kodjo Dadzie tracked back to make a goalline clearance to ensure Akwa United did not concede so early in the contest.

After that goalline clearance, Akwa United pushed forward. Musa Newman, Ubong Friday and Moses Ebiye came close to scoring in quick succession.

The best chance of the opening half fell to Ishaya Anyu right inside the six yard box on the half hour into the game, but the Nasarawa United man fired it over.

Four minutes later, Adamu Hassan made no error planting his header past Shagari in Akwa United's goal off Jide Williams' cross.

For all of their dominance in midfield anchored by Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Afeez Aremu, Akwa United could not put the ball behind Nasarawa United goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleson in the first half.

The Promise Keepers were pegged back in the restart by Nasarawa United. Twice in nine minutes Aremu and Godspower Igudia made sure Akwa United did not concede a second goal.

Just before the hour mark, Alhassan Ibrahim would later rue failing to draw Akwa United level from Dadzie’s inch-perfect cross as he headed over the post.

However Akwa United’s hope of a fightback suffered a setback when defender Semiu Liadi was sent off for a second bookable offence after he fouled Achiv.

Maikaba got involved in a flurry of activities on the touchline by sending on Paterne Couno, Christian Pyagbara and Ubong Idio for Dadzie, Friday and Aremu respectively in the space of eight minutes.

The Uyo club could not salvage anything from the game as they had their ambition of going four matches unbeaten snapped. (© supersport.com)

•Photo shows Nasarawa United line-up.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 3, 2017

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