Akwa United Quells MFM's Fire in Uyo

The brave performance from Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos against Akwa United Football Club of Uyo in match day 34 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) couldn't see them through as they suffered a  3-1 defeat in the hands of the host.

A brace from Hassan Babangida and a well taken free kick from Ubong Friday was more than enough for the Promise Keepers to edge the visitors in Sunday’s NPFL match decided at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Ifeanyi Ifeanyi scored MFM FC's only goal of the game from the spot in added minute of the second half.

The first 15 minutes of the proceedings saw a great display from the two teams but the Olukoya Boys were largely the better side. Akwa United FC's only chance of the first 15 minutes of the encounter came from Fortune Omaniwari but the tall striker's effort went off target while the visitors won two free kicks but they failed  to make the set-pieces count.

After but sides failed to make meaningful impact with the ball in the opening minutes, the homers settled into the match four minutes later and registered the first goal of the encounter with Hassan Babangida scoring the opener from an Aniekan Ekpe's assist.

Omoniwari came close to doubling the hosts lead in the 26th minute of play but he failed to connect a cross from Yusuf Adio. MFM FC  gathered momentum and their effort paid off with a goal from Newman Musa in the 28th minute but was ruled out for offside by the referee. 

Sikiru Olatunbosun also had his goal cancelled in the added minute of the first half when he rounded off the hosts goalkeeper, Olufemi Kayode before slotting home but he was flagged offside. First 45 minutes ended with the homers claiming a 1-0 lead.

In his attempt to get the needed result, the Lagos-based team gaffer, Fidelis Ilechukwu introduced teenage striker Stephen Odey for Newman. The young forward troubled the hosts defence, his attempts on goal couldn't beat the Promise Keepers experienced goalkeeper.

Olufemi pulled another brilliant save to deny Ifeanyi Ifeanyi his goal chance in the 50th minute when he tried a long low shot from outside the box.

MFM FC pressurized the home team as they went forward in their numbers in search of a goal with Onuwa Chukwuka  initiating the moves from the middle of the park. Yusuf Adio was booked for a rash challenge on Onuwa when he made an attempt to dispose the petit midfielder.

The 62nd minute witnessed  what could have been the beginning of a defining moment for Ilechukwu's men but Kayode parried Ifeanyi's well-struck free kick to corner.

10 minutes later, Akwa United got the second goal of the match as Hassan completed his brace with a cool header as MFM FC's goalkeeper, James Aiyeyemi failed to lay hold on a cross from a corner kick. The third goal came from Ubong Friday's 90th minute free kick.

Ifeanyi netted from the spot in the last minute of added time of the second half when the referee awarded the NPFL newcomers a penalty off a bad challenge on tricky left-winger, Olatunbosun inside home team box.

The Lagos-based outfit now sit on 16th position with 38 points from 32 NPFL matches.