Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) leading goalscorer Stephen Odey got the only goal as MFM FC continued their push for the title or perhaps, a continental ticket on a day rivals at the top, Plateau United faltered.
The 1-0 win against Wikki Tourists vaulted MFM to 49 points, just two behind Plateau United.
Odey, who has now netted 17 goals afterwards told npfl.ng that he was delighted to have increased his goals tally, declaring that he would still score more before the season ends.
“I am very happy to have scored today and take my goal tally to 17 goals. It is 17 now I hope it will continue to increase,” said Odey.
He however played down the personal achievement saying that he is keen to contribute to make the team achieve success this season.
“I will continue to work very hard to help my team. The fans are expecting so much from us and we don’t want to let them down,” the MFM forward said.
The encounter was a cagey affair from the start as both teams adopted a cautious approach.
Chances were few and far in between as both goalkeepers were hardly troubled in the early exchanges.
But it was the visitors that started brightly as early as the first minute with a well taken corner kick that almost caused problems for the hosts’ defence but for the quick intervention of goalkeeper Abayomi Folarin.
Odey should have done better in the 7th minute when a through pass from Sikiru Olatunbosun freed him on the right side but he reacted late to provide a cutback for Olatubosun as the visitors defence recovered to clear.
The visitors came close again in the 21st minute when a routine free kick from Wikki Tourists defender Festus Umanah was flicked on by Idris Guda Mohammed. The flick almost caught the goalkeeper napping but the ball sailed inches wide.
If the visitors had the belief of getting something from the game, it was thwarted five minutes from the interval as MFM got their solitary goal from a sweeping move and quick inter change of passes that had Wikki Tourists struggling.
It was Onuwa Chukwuka who located Odey inside a crowded Wikki box for the striker to calmly slot the ball far beyond the reach of goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu. The marksman elected to go for precision rather than power.
Wikki Tourists should have taken something away from their visit to Lagos if the strikers were more clinical.
Bala Nikyu’s introduction of Mubarak Umar in the second half helped the team to mount more pressure on their opponents with Chidiebere Ajoku, clearly a standout delight for the visitors on the right side of their attack.
By lmcnpfl
