The first derby of the season between Akwa United and Dakkada FC ended on Monday in a stalemate in the Match Day 1 of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League at the Nest of Champions, Uyo.
Akwa began the game on a frenzy with Seth Mayi firing Etim Matthew’s cross wide to miss opening the score in the 10th minute. In the 24th minute, Dakkada’s Adamu Yazid missed his side’s first goal-scoring chance in the 24th minute when his low cross towards goal from 20 yards failed to beat the goalkeeper, Jean Efala.
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At the restart of the second half, Akwa withdrew Ukeme Williams and Ikechukwu Nwani for Ndifreke Effiong and Ubong Friday in a bid to get the maximum points.
In the 62nd minute, Effiong missed a golden sitter from Mayi’s sublime pass to score to the astonishment of the technical crew. In the 65th minute, Mfon Udoh replaced Akarandut Orok to help unlock the tight Dakkada’s defence.
As the game wore, both sides became conscious of not letting down their guards with tackles flying in.
Despite Akwa’s four shots on target as against Dakkada’s two, no goal was scored by both sides as the game ended 0-0.
In the second game of the day at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina United secured a last-minute winner as they defeated Heartland FC 3-2.
In the second minute, an absolute gem of a strike from Bright Onyedikachi gave the away team the lead to the shock of the hosts.
The home team poured forward in their numbers and were duly rewarded in the 44th minute by the equalising goal from Boubacar Masally to end the first half 1-1.
At the restart of the second half, both sides continued from where they stopped as Heartland’s Samuel Nnoshiri regained their lead in the 81st minute to make it 2-1. The game seemed over for the hosts, but Masally had other ideas as he scored his brace in the 88th minute.
With the game poised to end 2-2, substitute Samuel Kalu turned the game around for the home team right at the death as the encounter ended 3-2.
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