Remo Stars on Sunday at the Nest of champions in Uyo, lost 1-0 to Akwa United in a matchday 33 clash of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
Having lost the first leg 0-1 in Ikenne, the Coach Gbenga Ogunbote led side were in Akwa Ibom for a revenge mission but were made to do without Sikiru Alimi, Isah Ali and Sikiru Kamal all missing out due to sickness.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The hosts were the first on the offensive, through David Onovo but Kayode Bankole came to the rescue with a good save.
Tolulope Ojo did well to clear out an attempt from Akwa United on the half hour mark before Remo Stars pushed on the counter attack to break the deadlock but the host defended well.
Akwa United had a free kick on the right side which Matthew Etim took and Abdulrasheed Awoyemi cleared for safety.
Five minutes before halftime, Dayi Ojo located Tolulope Ojo who dribbled his marker to take at once but had his effort deflected for a corner kick.
A huge chance fell to Tolulope Ojo to put the away side in front but Uche Okafor denied him the goal with a point blank save.
Dayo Ojo would then dribbled his marker with what was the last attempt of the first half but was infringed with Abudulrasheed Awoyemi taking the freekick and Uche Okafor denying Ifegwu Ojukwu’s header.
Three minutes into the second half, Akwa United had a free kick, in which David Onovo missed a header to put his side in front.
Ubong Essien then fouled Ifegwu Ojukwu with Tolulope Ojo taking a low freekick inside the opponents’ box but Lekan Adedayo missed via his head.
The host pushed forward, just two minutes after the hour mark, Bello Babatunde moved with the ball to square but Remo Stars kept to their shape.
The goal would eventually come for the Promise Keepers in the 65th minute as Alpesari Naibe headed home from close range.
Remo Stars had a free kick in a promising area to restore parity but Junior Nduka could only hit the wall, Ibrahim Yusuf for Tolulope Ojo was “The Oracle’s” only substitution of the game in order to change things.
Five minutes from regulation time, Qudus Akanni took a low pass to Abdulrasheed Awoyemi, who pushed forward but Matthew Etim cleared for the host.
No further goals were scored as Akwa United did the double, the only side to have done so over Remo Stars this season.
WHAT IT MEANS
The defeat sees Remo Stars drop to 5th on the log with 50pts just one shy of Rangers on 3rd, who are occupying the final continental spot.
WHAT’S NEXT
The sky blue star now have a quarterfinal fixture to look forward to in the Ogun State FA Cup against Chummie FC on Tuesday.
1 Comment
You are truly a professional side. See you on the continent soon.