NNL22: Malumfashi FC Ease To Home Win In League Opener
Malumfashi FC got off to a 1-0 home win in the 2021/22 Nigeria National League, NNL opener against Road Safety FC of Abuja.
Playing at the Abubakar Labo Controller Stadium, Malumfashi, the Rabi’u Tata led side were the first out of them to make a dangerous attack in the game when Abba Dali fires a freekick which is blocked by the visiting team.
Mansir Ibrahim’s effort inside the box inched away from the net in the 55th minute as the home team looked to break the deadlock just as a freekick was awarded at the edge of the box after a foul on Abba Dali.
Resultingly, Abdullahi Y Abdullahi’s free-kick was deflected off target, five minutes after the half-hour mark, Abubakar Isyaku contested and won the ball in the box, pulled a lovely cross but Nazifi Mu’azu failed to connect to it.
Abba Dali, who was having a good first half drove into the box, shot from close range but saw his effort denied by the Goalkeeper just before the halftime break.
The first half end with both teams searching to take advantage of the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, Mansir Ibrahim came close to opening the scoring lead with a beautiful back hill that went slightly inches of the first pole.
What was going as a perfect afternoon, had a downside as Road Safety FC were reduced to 10 men after Okoro Rueben was sent off following a second bookable offence.
Twenty Five minutes before regulation time, Isaac Terengwua and Suleiman Labo came in for Mansir Ibrahim and Nazif Mu’azu in a tactical sub as Malumfashi FC seemed to be capitalising on their numerical advantage.
The deadlock to ease the home crowd would, however, come in the 73rd minutes, when Saifullahi Usman curled a beautiful low effort into the box from edge for Substitute Suleiman Labo to give home a well deserve lead.
Goalkeeper, Zuladaini Lawal was finally called into action as he made an impressive save in the game.
There would be no further goals from the two teams as Coach Rabi’u Tata and the lads won their first game of the new season comfortably.
Up next for the Katsina State-based side is Kogi United clash in Lokoja on the 19th of February, 2022.
