It only took a 9th minute strike of New sign on Chukwudi Nwaodu to take Lobi Stars FC to the top spot of the NPFL 2019/2020 in Match Day 14 decided in Aper Aku Stadium yesterday 12th January, 2020 after a long chase.
The game kicked off 3:58pm with Lobi Stars doing the fire work against MFM. Lobi Stars got a free kick on the left side of the field, Ebube Duru’s high kick across the goal was interrupted by Moses Adikwu of MFM’s header.
In the 9th minute, Samad Kadiri ran down the left flank, under pressure by an MFM defender, back heeled to Nzube Anaezemba who double pass with Chukwudi Nwaodu, Nzube’s second touch was a quick cross for Chukwudi who cut short the journey of the ball in the first post to strike once in to the net for Lobi Stars first and only goal of the game.
Douglas Achiv would have made it two but his power packed free kick was punched out by Goalkeeper Folarin Abayomi of MFM.
MFM pushed hard in the 15th minute towards Lobi Stars goal and got two corner kicks in quick succession but ended up harmless. MFM Ogwu Clement got a yellow card in the 18th minute for unsporting behavior while his team was about taking a free kick near Lobi Stars penalty area.
24th minutes switch from the left to the far right by Samad Kadiri to John Lazarus and a well combined interpass between Lazarus and and Mustapha Adewumi got Lazarus down the right side but his one time strike at goal went in to the waiting hands of Goalkeeper Folarin Abayomi.
Clinical interpasses between Douglas Achiv and Chukwudi was delivered to Samad Kadiri whose shot at goal couldn’t beat Abayomi who without doubt was the man between Lobi Stars Stars and goals against MFM.
28 minutes, Nzube Anaezemba received the ball from Ebube Duru in a very tight situation on the left edge of MFM penalty area and managed a quick and unprepared shot at goal but was not strong enough to beat the Goalkeeper.
33 minutes of play, Douglas Achiv placed a through pass behind the MFM defence that brought wonder boy Abdulkareem Mumini face to face with goalkeeper, his power packed shot was punched in to corner kick.
The corner kick taken in the 34th minute resulted to a free kick in front of goal, Samad Kadiri’s bulletlike shot at goal was saved by my man of the game Goalkeeper Folarin Abayomi.
Samad Kadiri’s technical delivery found Chukwudi Nwaodu who lowered the ball with a header for Douglas Achiv to thunder a ballistic missile but the extreme effort of Goalkeeper Abayomi parried the ball that narrowly sailed over the cross bar.
41 minutes, limping Douglas Achiv who did extremely well in the game gave way for Tamara Ezekiel.
45+2: Centre Referee for the match Ukah Ndubuisi from IMO State sounded his whistle for half time. Scoreline remained Lobi Stars 1-0 MFM.
Lobi Stars came in to the second half with renewed zeal and determination to increase the goal tally, In the 48th minute, Lobi Stars got a free kick on the left side, a quick start by Ebube Duru hit Nzube with a wall pass back to him but his traditional high cross received a firm grip from Goalkeeper Abayomi.
A quick start start by the goalkeeper progressively got a corner kick for MFM in the 51st minute but the kick was headed out of danger by Tamara Ezekiel of Lobi Stars.
A well coordinated attack was initiated by Ebube Duru in 54th Minute, he ran down the left flank with the ball and was pressured to change course to his weak leg but his managed delivery found Tamara Ezekiel who lowered the ball with a header to an on rushing John Lazarus but his unbalanced shot at goal went too high.
A 56th minute corner kick taken by Nzube Anaezemba almost gave Lobi Stars a second goal as two successive attempts at goal by Samad Kadiri and John Lazarus header and shot respectively couldn’t result to a goal.
58 minutes if play, there was a momentary switch and Lobi Stars suffered some pressure but was short lived, Temin Adebayo took over from Dennis Obasi in the 60th minute for MFM.
Lobi Stars continued the frantic efforts of looking for an improved margin but none of their efforts paid, Coach Gbenga Ogunbote introduced Joseph Osadiaye for Nzube Anaezemba 18 minutes to the end of the game to strengthen the attack.
86th minute free kick for Lobi Stars was well taken by Samad Kadiri but saved by the extra ordinary effort of Goalkeeper Folarin Abayomi.
90+1, John Lazarus’s solo effort earned Lobi Stars another free kick on the right side towards MFM goal, a quick start and combinative interpasses between Lazarus and Osadiaye end with a long cross by Lazarus but was out of reach of Abdulkareem Mumini who was the only available team mate in front of goal. The Centre Referee sounded his whistle for the end of proceedings 90+3 minutes.
The victory threw Lobi Stars up to the first position on the league table, two points clear of the dethroned leaders plateau United who enjoyed the top place for 13 match days.
Lobi Stars will be travelling to the City of Porharcourt to take on another title contender Rivers United on Wednesday 15th January, 2020 in match day 15.
