Lobi Stars on Sunday April 24, 2022 failed in yet another spirited attempt to pick on the road points as their MatchDay 25 opponents and team of the moment Akwa United extend their five match unbeaten run to six at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo with a slim 1-0 margin.
The shoe get size boys played with character and discipline not seen in the team recently. Though the Coach Deji Ayeni tutored boys displayed the coherence of a compact team with winning mentality but were resisted by the visiting pride of Benue to a stand still.
The story would ordinarily have been different if Sai’d Mubarak had taken the two first half chances that came his way on the 13th and 45th minute of the game.
Akwa United’s Wisdom Fernando, Ubong Friday, supported by Adams Yakubu with Bello Babatunde who was firing upfront from all cylinders with threatening vibes were securely checked by Coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru tutored wards.
Experienced Goalkeeper Aliko Mustapha was effectively on duty as he neutralised all the shots at goal from the homers until the 35th minute when a high ball dropped behind the defense of Lobi was headed in to corner kick by John Lazarus, the quick restart with a short pass saw a rampaging Bello Babatunde who eliminated former U-17 and CHAN Eagles International Lazarus who failed to close in on time and finally Duke Osimaga before unleashing a powerful strike that went beyond the reach of Goalkeeper Mustapha for the only goal of the match.
Three minutes in to the second half, Lobi Stars got a free kick about 30 mitres away from the goal, Lazarus took a goal bound missile-like shot that was block by the Akwa defensive wall.
Defense strong man and scorer of the first goal against Gombe United in the match day 24 Endurance Ebedebiri was booked for unsporting behaviour two minutes to the hour mark.
Coach Ganaru altered his existing 11 to improve output as Lobi Stars were desperately looking for an equaliser by replacing Mubarak Sa’id and Chinonso Okonkwo with U-20 invitee and highest goal scorer Ifeanyi Ogba and ageless David Tyavkase 63 minutes extent of play.
Tyavkase’s first touch after two minutes on the field was a left footed volley at goal that missed his target slightly.
Ayagwa Raphael took a second booking of the game for applying excessive force in tackling an opponent.
Lobi Stars last opportunity at equaliser availed itself when a free kick from the right fringe of the penalty area was shot with accurate precision by John Lazarus but was blocked by former Lobi Stars centre back Etim Matthew on the 88th minute. The game was extended by 6 minutes but Lobi Stars fired blank to go down gallantly by one unreplied goal.
Lobi Stars at the moment still maintained 16th place despite the narrow loss to Akwa United and will be going back to Makurdi to keep double home dates with Nasarawa United and Katsina United in MatchDays 26 and 27 respectively.
