Second half substitute, Emeka Maduka made a big difference, as he scored in the final nine minutes of the game as Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia defeated Lagos based club, 1472 FC 1-0, to secure its first win of the year.
The encounter, which is a Matchday 7 fixture in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Southern Conference Group A, took place at the Umuahia Township Stadium, on Saturday, as Comets recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
Four changes were made from the Comets Team that started in the Matchday 6 away 3-2 victory at Abeokuta Stormers; with the inclusion of Akpan Mfreke, Ebuka Lazarus, Hyacinth Olieh and Chinatu Eluwa back into the starting XI.
The hosts started the game on a bright note with most of the ball possession in the first 20 minutes of the encounter. They created lot’s of goals scoring opportunities via Uche Okoro and Oscar Nwaimo, who had a man of the match performance that saw their long range efforts saved by the goalkeeper.
However, Hyacinth Olieh got a great opportunity to give Abia Comets the lead from the spot kick, in the 30th minute, but it wasn’t the case, as the ball went over the crossbar.
But nothing could separate both sides as it ended goalless in the first half of the encounter.
In the second half, the hosts made couple of substitutions to put more force to the team with the introductions of Maduka, Ikenna Ogu, Okere Daniel and Iroakazi Ifeanyi.
The match winner came throughwhen Benjamin IIuyomade produced a moment of brilliance, when he located Maduka inside the opponent box, before the impressive winger calmly slotted home in the 81st minute, to help Comets secure the maximum points and also the first victory of the year.
With the victory, The Umuahia based club have moved further on the Southern Conference Group A Log on Nine (9) points from seven games.
Abia Comets FC is savoring the good working relationship existing between the Technical Director/Technical Adviser, Tony Ogharanduku and the Head Coach, Okechukwu Ejeh as the technical crew and the players promise to sustain the winning spree.
Comets will be on the road in her next league fixture, against Smart City FC, in a Matchday 8 encounter, next week Friday, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.