Mailantarki Care FC secure First NNL win
..jump to second on log table
Reigning FCT AITEO Cup champions Mailantarki Care FC defeated cross-city rivals EFCC football club in the Match Day 3 fixture of the ongoing Nigeria National League 2022/2023 season.
The encounter which was decided on Sunday at the Mailantarki home ground, the area 3 football pitch saw the visitors down to ten men resulting from an early pressure mounted by the lights boys in the second quarter of the game.
EFCC goalie Utum Godswill was forced to make fingertips safe off Sa’idu Usman’s header following a fine set-piece delivery by Jabir Hassan.
The EFCC captain Utum Godswill received his marching orders midway into the first half after a fierce tackle on Mailantarki’s playmaker Babangida Abdullahi who was free on goal against the former.
Forward Chimezie Gabriel headed beautifully into the far post from close range to send the home fans into jubilation, thanks to Jabir Hassan’s inch-perfect delivery from the right flank 10 minutes before the break.
The host’s brilliant display in the offensive area almost yielded another strike when substitute Miko Dalha smashed into the side netting after Babangida Abdullahi freed him inside the EFCC box a few moments after the restart.
The visitors were so close to equalizing after Egaji Joshua sent his effort just inches away from Sulaiman’s near post before the forward heads straight at the latter from close range just 2 minutes from time.
The vital win leapfrogged Mailantarki boys to 2nd position from 5th on the group A1 log as the high-flying boys look forward to an away outing against Kogi United on Saturday at the confluence stadium, Lokoja.
