PHCL21: MFM and Port Harcourt United win as Elekahia United and Sonto FC draw
The first game was between Elekahia and Sonto. Elekahia created the opening chance as early as the 3rd minute when Chinedu Emmanuel laid a pass to Boma Godswill in the box but was cleared by Afoma Owhor.
Renowned for his superb vision for goal, skipper of the Elekahia side, Kingsley Benson opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. A lofty pass by Boutique Brown met Benson who controlled brilliantly before smashing it past Terrence Ezekiel.
Elekahia would have added the second goal six minutes later but a weak shot by Felix Oddy was easily saved by the goalkeeper.
Sonto ensured that they went into the break one goal apiece. The centre-back defenders of Elekahia were flat-footed to allow Johnson Samuel to lob past Godstime Martins for the equaliser in the 42nd minute.
Three minutes after the restart, Chinedu Emmanuel of Elekahia saw his right-footed effort rattle the upright. Puma Prince of Sonto had an excellent work rate and did a yeoman job in the middle of the park to intercept offensive moves by the opponents.
Godstime made a vital save to deny Churchill Igwe of Sonto with 10 minutes on the clock. It was followed by Elekahia having their share of missed chances when Oddy failed to guide his effort into the net to signal the end of a drawn game.
Puma Paul won the Shoesky Man of the match award.
Sonto Godspower was satisfied with the result in his post-match thoughts.
" I'm satisfied with the performance of my players. I had the confidence that they would perform better. I believe that we will perform better in our next match."
Silas Chikezie of Elekahia said his players gave their best.
" We tried our best to utilize the opportunity to win but they came prepared. I'm okay with the draw rather than a loss."
NAF Skyhawks had a sluggish start in their game with MFM and handed advantages for the 'Church Boys' to utilize.
Temple Anyanwu rose highest and nodded but was denied by the crossbar in the 4th minute. MFM took the lead in the 8th minute when Eden Martin floated a sumptuous cross that was guided home by Chinonye Rapha.
NAF got back into the game in the 18th minute. Chuks Vincent capitalised on a defensive clanger by Temple to smash into an empty net for his side.
The right-full-back of MFM, Emmanuel Joseph was offensively awesome with his darting runs from the flanks. Vincent almost had his brace but sent his effort wide from goal.
Both sides had chances to get the second towards the end of the first half. Amadi Ugochukwu failed to tap home for MFM after a pinpoint cross was delivered by Chibuike Roi. Vincent yet again blast his effort straight at the goalkeeper.
Amadi restored the lead to MFM. A solitary strike by the attacker gave his side the second goal in the 58th minute. The Airforce-based side mounted a late pressure for the equalizer but MFM held out, though, and battled to the three points.
Joseph Emmanuel won the Shoesky Man of the match award.
Abubakar Ibrahim of MFM was confident of the win in his post-match reactions.
" Before we started the game, I knew we will win. We tried to get the three points. I will do more better as the games progress."
Johnson Borode said his side will go back to the drawing board.
" We have to go back to the drawing board and see what happens. It's a league and we are still pushing up."
The last game was a highly-tensed local derby between Port Harcourt United and D/Line United.
Both sides created opportunities in the opening ten minutes. Amadi Collins failed to score from close range for PH United in the 5th minute while Valentine Hamilton made a last-ditch clearance to deny Chukwuma Anabolam's effort for D/Line.
On the 22nd minute, Harrison Gibson thought he had given D/Line the lead but was flagged offside following a pass that was laid by Prince Amadi. At the half-hour mark, Godknows Ikpe missed a glaring opportunity for PH United after Stanley Ebenezer turned his marker inside and out before finding Godknows in an acre of space.
The breakthrough for PH United came in the 33rd minute. David Peter spilled the ball to an unmarked Amadi Collins who latched brilliantly from the rebound. Yabo Moniywa's lads accentuated proceedings after the goal as they went into the break with a goal advantage.
Iniobong Thompson introduced fresh legs at the restart. Lucky Moka and Tochi Eze were thrown into the fray for Harrison Gibson and Ifeanyi Owuka.
PH United continued from where they stopped when Godknows roamed into the box and tried the improbable strike from 25 yards that went out for a goal kick.
The two-goal cushion for PH United came in the 58th minute. A penalty was awarded after Godknows was hauled down. Having scored two from the spot in the previous game, Godknows was denied from 12 yards by David but slammed the rebound for his third league goal of the campaign.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, goalkeeper Ikake Sunday received the marching orders for obstructing a goal-bound move. Despite having a man advantage, D/Line failed to capitalize on it as a spirited display by PH United gave them the maximum points in the derby.
Oto Friday of PH United won the Shoesky Man of the match award.
Yabo Munyiwa was excited about the victory.
" I told everyone that we will see brilliant performance today. We came out victorious without conceding a goal despite having the goalkeeper sent off."
Iniobong Thompson bemoaned his players for the defeat.
" We still have hope to do something better. Lack of concentration caused us the game. I will try and see how I can change the pattern of play in our next games."
Sonto FC team list:
Terrence Ezekiel 1, Chinumezi Achorla 6, Churchill Igwe 7, Afoma Owhor 5, Godspower Moses 10, Wobo Chijioke 3 (Daniel Innocent 67'), Ogbonnda Godspower 9 (Promise Boniface 67'), Johnson Samuel 11, Puma Prince Paul 4, Justice Egbule 8, Okon Jeremiah 2 (ThankGod Mark 46')
Unused Substitutes:
Chimebuka Ozomene, Emmanuel Micheal 14
Elekahia United team list:
Godswill Martins 22 (Onyia Obinna 87'), Ledogo Wisdom 13, Boutique A Brown 4 (Odum Christian 73 '), Ugochukwu Aholu 16, Boma Godswill 5, kingsley Benson 8, Odum Godstime Anebom 9 (Toby Robert 60'), Felix Oddy 14, Chinedu Emmanuel 11, Kimi Boms Bright 12, Josantus Ibu 15
Unused Substitutes:
Olulu Stainless 10, Sunday Kokou 2, Joshua Omoniyabi 3
NAF Skyhawks team list:
Chris Samuel 17, Emmanuel Naka 12, Isaac Saturday 3, Kingsley Prince 14, Exe Chiemeka 5, Lands Abubakar 6, Johnson Olomola 11 (Christian Akpan 80'), Micheal Ikhile 10 (Adekoye Kola 63'), Usor Victor 8, Dickson Ndifreke 4 (Usor Victor 46'), Chidi Vincent 17
Unused Substitutes:
Kilanko Gbolahu 9, Confidence Monday 2, Martins Abu 7
MFM FC team list:
Raymond Musa 13 , Temple Anyanwu 30, chima Nnadikwe 17, Joseph Emmanuel 3, Joseph Micheal 24, Edet Martins 10, Chibuike Roi (Ifeanyi Anthony 86'), 35 Ebuka Onuoha 19, Amadi Ugochukwu 23 (Onoja Daniel 86'), Obumneke Mike John 7 (Innocent Thompson 37'), Chinonye Rapha 32 (Nwike Nwogu 73')
Unused Substitutes:
Taiye Akintola 2, Innocent Thomson 14, Godsgift Friday 37
Port Harcourt United team list:
Ikake Sunday 1, Ikechukwu Kirian 20, Gift Moses 28, Rico Sabastine 6, Ahmed Sulieman 2 (Cola Wobo 60'), Stanley Ebenezer 36 (Uzoma Amaefula 65'), Henry Rafael 10, Valentine Hamilton 8,
Amadi Collins 16, Godknows Ikpe 14 (Stanley Amadi 82') Otto Friday 34,
Unused Substitutes
Chigozie Ohaka 24, Izu Oduma 26, Richard West 4, Michael Joseph 22
D/Line United team list:
David Peter 1, Chibuzor Chimizie 15, Godsple Chinedu 16, Ogo Godsgift 3, Ifeanyi Onwuka 6 (Tochi Eze 46), Harrison Gibson 13 (Lucky Moka 46'), Chukwuma Anabolam (Anyanwu Destiny 77'), Prince Amadi 9, Chima Akuwudika 14, Life Udoh (Saka Kadri 50'), Alfred Nsikan 4 (Victor Enugedi 60')
Unused Substitutes:
Onyema Ben, Harrison Obasi, Oke Nnana 5, Mohamed Lashei, Lucky Nicolas
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