NPFL: Mbaoma strike late to give Akwa United victory over Sunshine Stars
Victor Mbaoma strike late to hand Akwa United a 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars in a heated Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 18 tie at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Sunday.
After a very tight and lively opening minutes, the first chance of the game fell to Akwa United in the 9th minute but Adeshina blasted wide inside the area from a lay up.
Nevertheless the home side found a way to draw the first blood through an Ifeanyi Ifeanyi’s ingineous strike from dead ball.
Sunshine Stars committed a foul close to the edge and the midfielder delivered an inch-perfect strike into the top left corner from the resulting free kick in the 42′.
With three minutes left to play before halftime, the visitors threatened to strike back in successions; first, Sikiru Alimi drew a save from Ismaila Shagari through a half volley, before Franklin Sasere had a tamed effort from just inside the area saved by the goalkeeper.
Sasere restored parity for Sunshine Stars two minutes after the restart; the big framed striker athletically scored his second against United in as many matches after Shagari spilled a Seun Olulayo’s cross onto his part.
Despite some renewed efforts to score a second, the home side were kept at bay by good defensive organisation of Sunshine Stars and Ocheje’s brilliance until the 88′ when Mbaoma managed to find a space and forced in an efforts to secure the win for the Promise Keepers.
Despite the loss the Akure Landlords stay a place above the drop zone with 20 points from 18 matches and next face table toppers, Lobi Stars at home next Sunday.
