Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Chijioke Akuneto’s fifth-minute strike from the penalty spot against Rivers United has ended Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC’s six-game winless run in one of Matchday 17 fixtures of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) decided on Sunday at the Soccer Temple, Agege Stadium.
Prior to this game, the Olukoya Boys have played six league games in which they claimed just three points from two home matches against Enyimba and Lobi Stars and one away draw against Katsina United.
MFM FC started the game well with a commendable display and was awarded a spot kick following a bad challenge on Akuneto inside the visitor’s box after five minutes of play.
The attacker stepped forward and put the ball beyond Rivers goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande to record his fifth goal of the campaign.
Rivers United dominated the larger part of the proceedings, created numerous goal opportunities and won several free kicks in dangerous positions but failed to make all their attacking moves count in front of goal.
Akuneto disclosed in an interview with journalists minutes after the game that he was excited to score the goal that ended his team’s winless streaks and his fifth goal of the season.
“I am really excited to score my fifth goal this season and I am also happy that the goal ended our winless run in about six league games or thereabout.
“This victory I believe will turn things around for us going forward because we still have more important games to play,” he said with a smile on his face.
With the three points in the bag, MFM still maintains the third position on the NPFL Group A table with 27 points from 17 league outings, four points behind league leaders Rangers International.
