Newman’s Goal Moves Akwa Utd to Third Spot

BY MFON PATRICK.

Akwa United’s dream of going continental next season is still on curse as the team  cruised to third place on the Nigeria Professional Football League  table following a  1-0 victory over Enyimba at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.

In-form striker, Musa Newman, was the hero as he scored the only goal of the crucial encounter in the 15th minute tucking in Ubong Friday’s excellent cross.

It was his fourth goal in four matches and his seventh. The goal was enough to secure the three precious points for the Promise Keepers who have now gone unbeaten in 14 matches at the Nest of Champions.

A blistering start by both teams witnessed lots of attacking play but defenders at both ends of the field were in their right element to deny all forms of early penetrations.

Akwa United players and the coaching crew were highly motivated going into the game following the presentation of Award of Excellence to Coach Abdul Maikaba and midfielder Alhassan Ibrahim as manager and player of the month of April by the League Bloggers shortly before the start of the epic encounter.

Persistent attacking football by Coach Maikaba’s boys backed up by vocal supporters paid off nicely in the 15th minute after some brilliant exchange of passes  in the midfield orchestrated by Ifeanyi Ifeanyi,  Cyril Olisema and Alhassan Ibrahim, picked out Friday on the left wing. The winger delivered a clever cross inside the six yard box for Newman to score the all important goal.

After the early goal, the Promise Keepers pushed hard to double their lead but their efforts yielded no dividends just as the visitors’ attempts to equalise were constantly checked by the water-tight defence marshalled by Captain Otobong Effiong, Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Godspower Igudia and Kodjovi Dadzie.

Despite both teams throwing everything forward and making three  substitutions each in the second half, the score line   remained unchanged as the 2015 Federation Cup champions held on to record their 12th victory of the season.

The win moved Akwa United to third position on the log with 43 points from 26 matches with one match still outstanding. The Uyo based side will next engage league leaders Plateau United this weekend in Jos.