The most anticipated 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) The season ended with the only game of the day taking place at the Nest of Champions, Uyo, between Akwa United and the new Bendel Insurance.
After 90 minutes of action, the newly-promoted Asuransi side won 2-0 against the hosts, Akwa United.
Sunday’s result was similar to what they got in their first match last season when newly promoted Remo Stars came to Lagos and stunned MFM FC at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Imade Osehenkhoe, a University of Benin (Uniben) graduate, scored his first goal of the NPFL season with a quick pass from midfielder Devine Nwachukwu in the 39th minute, before Seriki Ismael doubled the lead for Arsenal Benin.
The game
Before kickoff, there was a minute’s silence in honor of the former Chairman of Akwa United, Obong Isong, who passed away on December 2, 2022.
Then both sides started fistful encounterr cautiously for the first 10 minutes.
After making the only measure in the early exchanges, Bendel Insurance were the first to get a chance to score from Ebuka Akobundu’s free kick in the 11th minute but the effort could not go past the Akwa United wall.
The hosts responded in the 19th minute with Moses Effiong’s corner kick saved by Bendel goalkeeper Amas Obasogie.
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The goalkeeper saved two more corner posts to deny the hosts an opener.
Four minutes later, Akwa United’s James Arong headed home Moses Effiong’s corner and in the 25th minute, Amas headed James Ajako’s long-range shot into the corner.
The game was still barren after the half-hour mark with the hosts trailing the visitors to an attacking test.
The hosts failed to find the target in the 35th minute after a combination of James Ajako and Moses Effiong went wide.
Four minutes later, Bendel Insurance broke the deadlock with Imade Osehenkhoe finishing the ball past Devine Nwachuku. Imade, a Uniben graduate and Higher Institution Football League (HIFL) product, scored his first goal of the season.
The visitors then added a second goal two minutes before the break through Ismael Seriki who stabbed the ball in after an early save by Akwa United goalkeeper Godsgift Elkanah.
The hosts who trailed in the first half were on a rescue mission in the second half and two minutes later, Ubong Friday’s header from Onyekachi Nwaiwu’s cross was saved by Amas.
Goalkeeper Bendel Insurance as the captain of the team is a source of strength for Arsenal Benin. Amas were called into action in the 49th minute by Moses Effiong’s header and the captain didn’t hesitate to save his effort for a corner.
Although Akwa United increased the pressure on Asuransi in the latter stages of the game, they failed to get a consolation goal let alone grab the spoils with the visitors.
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