The Solid Miners suffered a devastating 6-1 loss to the reigning NPFL league champions Akwa United, in a
rescheduled matchday twenty-four encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, on Thursday evening.
The game began with the visitors making some early attempts – Michael Tochukwu nearly opening scoring but was unlucky as his effort took a diversion off the target in the seventh minute.
The hosts, however, responded with a goal, two minutes later after goalkeeper, Danlami Umar, spilled Bello Babatunde’s freekick toward the path of unmarked Ubong Friday who easily tapped in from close.
While United were trying to recover from that early shocker, the Promise Keepers increased the rally to two in the 17th minute – Adamu Yakubu getting teed up by Bello Babatunde.
Right full-back, Abubakar Abdullahi, almost reduced the deficit but his header off a beautiful pass from Michael Tochukwu went over the bar for a goalkick.
Michael Tochukwu again freed up King Osanga who rather went for an ambitious strike.
The Solid Miners were 3-0 down in the 22nd minute after Wisdom Fernando was given enough space to breach the defence before sliding home a solo effort.
It was 4-0 two minutes before the half-hour mark as Wisdom Fernando scored his second goal of the evening, getting assisted by Bello Babatunde, with the scoreline staying that way till the break.
Nine minutes into the restart, King Osanga scored from a goal-mouth scramble to put scores at 4-1, and his second goal in two consecutive games for United since joining the club last season.
But Akwa United scored again to restore their four-goal cushion through Bello Babatunde before substitute, Franklin Matib, put matters to rest with a sixth goal in the 80th minute, to subject the Solid Miners to the worst result in their history.
Despite the outrageous outcome of the game today, the Solid Miners remain unmoved on the league table with 29 points, even as Akwa United also remain static on 7th position but with a seven-point gap.
Dakkada FC of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State are the next opponents of Nasarawa United at the new-found Jos International Stadium, Plateau State, on Tuesday, next week, before travelling a short distance to border neighbours, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi on matchday 26.
