Second half substitute Emeka Maduka made a big difference as he scored in the final nine minutes of the game as Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia defeated Lagos based club 1472 FC 1-0 to secure its first win of the year.
The encounter which is a Matchday 7 fixture in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Southern Conference Group A took place at the Umuahia Township Stadium, on Saturday as Comets recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
Four changes were made from the Comets Team that started in the Matchday 6 away 3-2 victory at Abeokuta Stormers; with the inclusion of Akpan Mfreke, Ebuka Lazarus, Hyacinth Olieh and Chinatu Eluwa back into the starting XI.
The hosts started the game on a bright note with most of the ball possession in the first 20 minutes of the encounter. They created lot's of goals scoring opportunities via Uche Okoro and Oscar Nwaimo who put in a man of the match performance that saw his long range efforts saved by the goalkeeper.
However, Hyacinth Olieh got a great opportunity to give Abia Comets the lead from the spot kick in the 30th minute, unfortunately, his strike went over the crossbar, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
But nothing could separate both sides as it ended goalless in the first half of the encounter.
In the second half, the hosts made couple of substitutions to put more force to the team with the introductions of Maduka, Ikenna Ogu, Okere Daniel and Iroakazi Ifeanyi.
The match winning goal came through when Benjamin IIuyomade produced a moment of brilliance when he located Maduka inside the opponent box, the winger calmly slotted home in the 81st minute to help Comets secure the maximum points and also the first victory of the year.
With the victory, The Umuahia based club have moved further on the Southern Conference Group A Log on Nine (9) points from seven games.
Comets will be on the road in her next league fixture against Smart City FC in a Matchday 8 encounter next week Friday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola