Ebuka Anaekwe struck in the 37th minute to deliver all three points to Nasarawa United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 24 fixture against Adamawa United.
The match was decided at the Lafia City Stadium, Lafia in Nasarawa State.
Nasarawa United started comfortably in the early stages of the encounter but it was Adamawa United that had an early chance to go in front in the 6th minute from a counter-attack move on the left flank. Goalkeeper Victor Philemon had sent in a dangerous pass into the Nasarawa box, but Galadima Muhammed did well to deal with John Paul’s close range effort.
In the 29th minute, Victor Philemon made a dive to his right to punch away Chigozie Obasi’s effort from a freekick that could have put the host ahead.
As the game became intense, Silas Nwankwo did well to create a space for himself in the middle of the pack but could not direct his close range effort at goal.
The Solid Miners would then have their noses in front with a side foot finish by Anaekwe John after being set up by Adamu Hassan in a one-two pass. It was the full-back’s second goal of the season on 37th minute.
A desperate Adamawa United came strong in the second half and they almost restored parity on 52nd minute. It was a Bolaji Micheal brilliant effort from outside the box that hit the crossbar after Galadima Mohammed miscued his clearance.
Adamawa United controlled the pace of the game as they continued to pressure the home side in search of equalizer.
With 10 minutes before fulltime, the Center Referee temporarily halted the game when Ebuka Anaekwe and Galadima Mohammed seemed to have been injured, needing the attention of the medical team.
A great opportunity that could have doubled the home team’s advantage was fluffed after Silas Nwankwo expertly controlled Galadima Mohammed’s service to set up Aliyu Abdullahi who could not direct home his shot from a promising position on 88th minute.
The visitors knocked and poked but could not carve a hole out of the defense of The Solid Miners.
Ebuka Anaekwe who scored the solitary goal of the game was adjudged the man of the match by the journalists that covered the game
