AbubakarBukolaSaraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 1-0 win over visiting Kaduna United FC.
The match was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
It was the Saraki Boys who showed early intent to carry the day when Bassey Effiom made a fantastic run down the Kaduna United’s right flank but one of the visitors’ defenders made a vital clearance to give away a corner kick.
ABS would have been ahead in the 7th minute, when Tomiwa Adesokan well marshaled cross beat every Kaduna United defenders leaving Effiom and Great Osamuyi with an opportunity to head home the chance.
Effiom and Abubakar Chindo combined well in the midfield before the latter found Mubaraq Gata, who played his first senior team game, was hacked in the box for a penalty.
Osamuyi stepped forward and sent Mohammed Kabiru to the wrong side for the lone goal in the 23rd minute.
Osamuyi would have added another four minutes later when Effiom’s split pass found the striker, he rounded Mohammed Kabiru off but the Kaduna United’s goalkeeper narrowed his chance as the ABS attacker watched as the ball strolled through the goal line for a goal kick.
The visitors restarted the game better than their hosts as the 2nd half resumed but the duo of Emmanuel Atoe and Toyin Alege were handful for the Kaduna United’s attacker led by Sani Jandi.
Both teams appealed for several penalties in the 2nd half but the centre referee was always waving play on.
The victory was the first for the Saraki Boys since the league resumed after the World Cup break.
They had lost 3-0 to Mighty Jets of Jos, in Jos and drew 0-0 in the reverse fixture before another match day 13 3-0 loss to Nigeria Air Force (NAF) FC of Abuja on Saturday.
The Saraki Boys will now play their match day 12 rescheduled fixture with Kogi United in Ilorin in Wed. Oct.
