FC Ifeanyiubah of Nnewi made hay in the first half to eke out a 2-1 victory over visiting Dakkada FC of Uyo for maximum points in their Matchday 24 encounter of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday evening.

Samuel Kalu gave Dakkada an early shocker driving home Uche Onuoha’s cross into the box in the second minute of play. FC Ifeanyiubah almost doubled the lead in the 12th minute when Ekene Awazie and Jimoh Gbadamosi produced an exciting interchange of play but Jimoh’s last touch went wide.

Uche Onuoha followed up the pressure with a 22nd minute point blank header from Chigozie Chilekwu’s free kick but Vincent Edafe, in goal for Dakkada, was sharp to produce a great save. Uche however returned in the 25th minute to give FC Ifeanyiubah a double lead as he latched on the rebound when Edafe parried Awazie’s bullet of a shot.

Dakkada made a few efforts before the break with Femi Ajayi befuddling Gbadamosi in the defence area but his shot went over. It was the same for Imo Obot whose ambitious 42nd minute strike from 40 yards sailed far wide.

The visitors returned with a new charge in the second half to rattle Ifeanyiubah on a number of occasions. Their effort paid off in the 70th when Charles Okafor hacked down Eso Archibong in the box and Archibong neatly tucked in the resulting penalty to reduce the margin.

Dakkada could have secured an equaliser in the 89th minute but it was the woodwork which saved the hosts from Archibong’s blaster in a half that they richly dominated.