Akwa United Back On Top With Late Goals Over Gombe United

Akwa United Back On Top With Late Goals Over Gombe United By Admin Two second half goals by Cyril Olisema and Wisdom Fernando propelled Akwa United to a hard-fought 2-0 win over Gombe United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday afternoon. After a rather dry first 45 minutes, Akwa United went in front from the penalty spot with 16 minutes left through captain for the day Olisema before Fernando wrapped up the win in stoppage time with a close range finish. Victory took the Promise Keepers back to the summit of Group B albeit on superior goals difference to El-Kanemi Warriors who went down to Kano Pillars on Sunday. Akwa United were made to play this Matchday 14 game without their enigmatic forward Mfon Udoh who missed out due to injury same as their Brazilian import Alberico Da Silva. Team’s head coach Rafael Everton struggled to find adequate replacements for the duo and named defender turned midfielder Chigozie Chilekwu in Udoh’s place while Olisema started in Da Silva’s stead. Gombe United head coach Ladan Bosso also lined out a reserved line-up comprising of three defensive midfielders Saleh Mohammed, Bolaji Adeyemo and Ibrahim Abdullahi with Joseph Onoja and star striker Adamu Mohammed starting from the bench. The weather was cool and sombre but so also was the football on display in the opening half hour of football. Both teams played with little intensity and purpose, much to the chagrin of the home fans who continued to rue the absence of their prized asset, Udoh. During the half hour of tepid football, Akwa United were dealt a blow with just ten minutes on the clock when former Super Eagles left-back Juwon Oshaniwa copped what looked like a hamstring injury; Togolese star Kodjovi Dadzie took his place. Akwa’s best chances of the half fell to Godspower Aniefiok who twice headed poorly wide when found by Christopher Lolo and Etboy Akpan with some accurate crosses. The visitors also had a couple of hopeful long range balls which did little to trouble Akwa’s Cameroonian goalkeeper Jean Efala. Everton made a tactical change at the start of the second half, replacing defensive midfielder Christopher Lolo with winger Wisdom Fernando. That was perhaps the tonic needed by his wards to step up their intensity and it was only the brilliance of Gombe United goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel that ensured scores was still even on the hour mark. The Rio 2016 bronze medallist produced a couple of astonishing saves in quick succession eleven minutes into the second half. First, he made himself big to block Ndifreke Effiong’s first-time effort after a flowing team move and secondly from the ensuing corner, he made a superb reflex save, tipping Emmanuel Charles’ header over the bar. Daniel again was alerted to turn Etboy Akpan’s miscued cross (fortuitously destined for the top corner) over his post in the 69th minute but by then, Akwa’s breakthrough was nigh. From the corner kick, Olisema was upended by Gombe striker Adamu Mohammed while he tried to control Aniefiok’s corner at Adamu’s blind side. Centre referee Jelili Ogunmuyiwa was just five meters away and promptly pointed to the spot. After a couple of minutes of protests, Olisema picked up the ball, fired it straight down the middle and although Daniel’s trailing leg got a touch of the ball, it was insufficient to keep it out. Gombe United have been at the back foot for almost the entirety of the game but suddenly started making attempts to attack after they went behind. Substitute Ahmed Ibrahim saw a well-struck effort gathered at the second attempt by Efala but it was too little too late for the visitors. Chants of “eee, eee, eee” greeted the hosts knockabout as they attempted to run down the clock late on but there was still enough time to get some icing on their sweaty cake. With Gombe trying to attack for a final time in stoppage time, Akwa seized possession and broke away with a couple of fine passes strung together. Aniefiok delivered the final of such passes for Fernando who finished beyond Daniel from just inside the box. It was not a vintage Akwa performance but the result was welcoming after they suffered their heaviest loss in two years last weekend at El-Kanemi Warriors. They next face the Warriors’ conquerors today – Kano Pillars – also in Uyo next Sunday. TEAMS/MATCH DETAILS Akwa United: 18. Jean Efala 29. Etboy Akpan 17. Juwon Oshaniwa (Kodjovi Dadzie 10′) 34. Emmanuel Charles 6. Denis Nya 27. Blaise Adou 26. Cyril Olisema 7. Aniefiok Godspower 32. Christopher Lolo (Wisdom Fernando 49′ 21. Ndifreke Effiong 3. Chigozie Chilekwu (Paul Obata 69′) Subs: 22. Emmanuel Iwu 20. Markson Ojobo 31. Kodjovi Dadzie 25. Wisdom Fernando 11. Paul Obata 14. Marshal Johnson 12. Barnabas Imenger BOOKED: NIL GOALS: Cyril Olisema 74′ (PEN), Wisdom Fernando 90+2′ Gombe United: 22. Emmanuel Daniel 35. Samuel Ganda 15. Faruq M. Umar 28. Saleh Mohammed 19. Peter Ambrose 24. Ola Ogundele 34. Bolaji Adeyemo 31. Chukwudi Samuel (Joseph Onoja 59′) 26. Success Emmanuel (Adamu Mohammed 62′) 3. Sadiq Abdulrazak (Ahmed Ibrahim 78′) 4. Ibrahim Abdullahi Subs: 1. Adeyinka Adewale 16. Alhassan Yusuf 18. Manika A. Usman 23. Haruna Adamu BOOKED: Umar Faruq 66′ GOAL: NIL Man of the match: Wisdom Fernando (Akwa United) Referee: Abduljelil Ogunmuyiwa