By Wale Mustapha
Creative midfielder, Douglas Achiv was the star man for Nasarawa United on Sunday as the Solid Miners ended their winless run to the new NPFL season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars.
The midfielder opened the score sheet for the hosts with just eight minute intonthe game after his well measured free kick beat outstretching Sunshine keeper, Henry Ayodele.
Inspirations captain for Nasarawa United, Ishaya Anyu get the second goal for his side with five minutes into second half after Ayodele had parried Seun Sogbeso's spot kick to his path.
The Coach Kabir Dogo led side were searching for their first goal and points into the new season haven lost their first two games (Plateau United and Kano Pillars) without finding the net.
But Lafia based club looked to have polished their scoring boots as they get on to the pitch against Sunshine with a renewed vigor and mindset.
The resolve earned the first goal which Man of the Match, Achiv smartly converted early on.
Sunshine thought they had equalized in the 12th minutes when Yusuf Jaiyeola smashed home from close range but their effort was disallowed as Nasarawa keeper Ayeleso was adjudged to have been fouled in the build up.
Sunshine upon their game in the second half creating series of scoring opportunities but Sikiru Alimi, Sasere and Adedipe were unlucky to found the net.
Douglas Achiv marshaled the midfield for the hosts as his passes created lots of challenges for Sunshine. The young midfielder who was lately dropped for the Super Eagles B team for the CHAN Tournament could have get his second with few minutes to end the game but his effort went inches wide after a good lay off from Obi Eugene.
A relief Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, Kabir Dogo believed the victory may have brought back the confidence on his boys adding that the Solid Miners would raise their game more in the subsequent games.
"Honestly I feel relieved with the win and I hope we continue to build on this, I never had doubts in what the boys can do because we've always play better in defeats, but what we lacked in the previous games is being corrected to some extent today which is scoring goals.
"What we need now is to perfect areas where there is need for adjustments and see how we can continue to get more positive results as the season goes on," he said.
Dogo's counterpart with the Sunshine Stars, Duke Udi praised his boys with their performance despite defeat saying Nasarawa United deserved the victory.
Udi distanced self from challenging the referee's decision to disallow his side's goal which could have been an equalizer but charged the match arbiters to avoid human errors.
Nasarawa United will next Calabar on Wednesday to take on Enyimba FC in the Matchday 4 while Sunshine will welcome Rivers United in the same Fixtures.
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