Kwara United FC Ilorin defeated Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry (MFM) FC 1-0 on Sunday, ending a six-game unbeaten streak for Nigeria Professional Football League’s Lagos team ( NPFL).
The Nigeria News Agency (NAN) reports that the match day 27 of the 2020/2021 NPFL match took place at the Kwara Stadium complex in Ilorin.
NAN reports the game had more drama, but Kwara United had most of the better opportunities, especially early in the proceedings.
MFM goalkeeper Bamidele Adeniyi responded perfectly to Stephen Jude’s 18th-minute free kick to prevent the host from taking the lead.
Olawale Farayola’s ghost passed his markers and found Michael Ohanu in the process, but the forward missed a glorious opportunity at close range in the 43rd minute.
Seconds to the break, Adeniyi again made another vital point-blank save to keep the host at the near post.
Michael Ohanu called out MFM FC’s Adeniyi when the goalkeeper struggled with the initial effort, but Adeniyi parried to concede a corner kick in the 64th minute.
Kwara United’s Joshua Agboola was found guilty of a foul by one of the visiting defenders in the box in the 70th minute and the center referee pointed straight at the spot for a penalty.
Kwara United captain Christopher Nwaeze, who took the penalty, sent Adeniyi to the wrong side to score the game’s only goal in the 77th minute of play after some drama.
Speaking after the game, MFM coach Olalekan Gabriel said his team played a better team which put a lot of pressure on them which they tried to reduce.
He explained that they came to Ilorin to give their all to win but met a good team who denied them the space to express themselves.
Gabriel said he would assess the gaps in the game and restart the team to continue another unbeaten streak.
His Kwara United counterpart Abdullahi Biffo said the game was more of a local derby.
Biffo said that MFM had fought very well to deny them the opportunity to function as they wanted.
“What matters most are the three points, which we have already obtained. I was expecting a game like this, just like when we played them in Lagos, ”said Biffo.
Kwara United will now travel to Makurdi to face the Lobi Stars on Matchday 28.
