The Solid Miners needed a King Osanga’s sublime strike and a couple of breathtaking defensive prowess marshalled by the quartet of Manga Mohammed, Emeka Onyema, Abubakar Abdullahi and Suleiman Akoza, to grind out a 2-1 win over visiting Yobe Desert Stars FC at the Lafia City Stadium on Saturday evening.
Adamu Hassan had come off the bench to put United ahead with a powerful header in the 49th minute after being tailor-found by fellow substitute, Moses Ajiboye, before Luiz drew the travellers level, four minutes later.
Osanga was introduced in the second half in place of Ham Danjuma and it didn’t take long before he found the back of the net with the simplest of tap-in from a beautifully worked build-up which saw Musa Musa delivering the last pass, 18 minutes before regulation time.
The win saw the Coach Usman Adams’ wards return to the top of the NNL Group C table with ten points from five games.
The Solid Miners headed into the game following a disappointing 1-0 loss away to El-Kanemi Warriors in their last match in Maiduguri, with the Maiduguri-based side overtaking them on the log on goal difference.
United wasted a fury of chances as they failed to register any goal in the first-half of the game against Yobe Desert Stars, with Shammasu Mohammed, Abubakar Abdullahi, Zangina Attahiru and Suleiman Akoza all unable to convert some begging chances.
The visitors also made series of attempts on goal but for the goalkeeping awareness of Jerry Isaac.
In the middle of the second half, United had to firm things up to deter the guests from recording any further goal with Goalkeeper, Jerry Isaac, and the defence producing exceptional display to ward off the opponents.
Nasarawa United are now three points ahead of second-placed El-Kanemi Warriors who have seven points and will engage NAF FC in their next game in Abuja, while Yobe Desert Stars remain rooted in the bottom of the table with two points only from five games so far played.
The Solid Miners will be on the road to face Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi in their match-day six tie at the Abubakar Tafewa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, on Saturday, 23rd December, 2023, by 3pm.
CAUTION(Yellow):
Sadiq(YOB)45+’
Manga Mohammed (NAS)50′
Chinedu C.(YOB)67′
Timo(YOB)68′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Jerry Isaac, Abubakar Abdullahi, Manga Mohammed, Emeka Onyema, Suleiman Akoza, Chidera Nduka(Moyi Hassan 81′), Shammasu Mohammed (King Osanga 45′), Ham Danjuma(Musa Musa 45′), Sabo Gambo, Zangina Attahiru(Adamu Hassan 45′), Pascal Ndubuisi(Moses Ajiboye 45′).
UNUSED SUBS: Ameh Godwin, Jalo Jibrin, Aminu Abubakar, Saviour Chukwu.
Eche Amos (Fellow, CBS),
Media Officer,
Nasarawa United FC.
