Akwa United produced a brilliant performance on matchday 18 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to beat Heartland Football Club 2-0 to move out of the danger zone on the league table.
A goal in either half of the match by defender Endurance Ebedebiri and striker Chijioke Alaekwe earned the Promise Keepers all three points in what is their fifth victory of the season and propelled them to 17th position with 19 points from 18 games.
Endurance gave the 2021 league champions the lead in the 30th minute after Heartland goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokoecha had fouled forward Osoba Kabir in the box.
The referee rightly awarded a penalty to Akwa United and defender Endurance Ebedebiri dispatched the spot kick nicely to open the scoring with his third goal in 18 games this season.
The home team maintained their lead until half time. On resumption of play, the Promise Keepers created some good scoring chances but couldn’t make the most of it as Friday Apollos and Paschal Onunze failed to direct their efforts on target.
Akwa United then doubled their advantage in the 68th minute when striker Chijioke Alaekwe carefully sent a powerful header into the back of the net off David Philip’s delightful delivery from a corner kick. It was the striker’s fourth goal in four matches in December and his fifth so far this season since joining the club at the start of the campaign.
Interim coach Umar Abdullahi made some tactical changes towards the end of the game; Reuben Bala, Emmanuel Ini, Auwal Ibrahim were introduced in places of Chijioke Alaekwe, Friday Apollos and Paschal Onunze.
“The boys pushed forward for more goals but their numerous efforts at goal were unsuccessful but they were able to see off their last home game before the mid-season break with a resounding victory.
Coach Umar Abdullahi in a post match conference said the technical crew is excited that the boys played according to instructions and congratulated them for their fighting spirit and for showing maximum concentration throughout the game.
Akwa United will next engage Remo Stars in Ikenne on matchday 19 this weekend before embarking on three weeks mid-season break.
