It was not a good outing for Abia Comets FC as the team fell to their second consecutive defeats on the road with a 3-0 loss to Awka based side Edel FC in the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The encounter which was a Southern Conference Group A Matchday 4 encounter took place at the Awka City Stadium on Sunday.
Comets started the game on a bright note and nearly went ahead inside six minutes through Jonah James but his low strike couldn’t beat off Edel FC goalkeeper, Salami Kelvin. John Otomewo then headed home a great delivery by Akpan Mfreke but it couldn’t beat off the goalkeeper.
However, the tempo of the game changed in a dramatic fashion as the host took a surprising lead in the 22th minute through Peter Nzadik who slotted home a powerful long range strike to make it 1-0.
Comets then tried to draw level just few minutes before the half time break from a delightful individual brilliance by Maduka Emeka but he was stopped inside the box by Edel FC defenders.
In the second half, Coach Okechukwu Ejeh brought in some fresh legs to enable the team to get back, with the introduction of Douglas Bueka, Joshua Emmanuel to help change the approach of the game.
In the 55th minute, Abia Comets Stand-In Captain Churchill Nnanna came close to level it 1-1 from a free kick but it was saved by the goalkeeper.
Anya Arinze and Obi Emmanuel both scored for the host in the final 10 minutes of the encounter as Abia Comets suffered its back to back away defeats in a consecutive games.
Abia Comets FC will now focus on its Matchday 5 home encounter against Enugu Based club, Coal City FC on Saturday at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola