Emmanuel Ihezuo’s individual brilliance – in a virtuoso second half performance – secured all three points for City FC Abuja in their first Local Derby against FWC Champions FC at the FCT Sports Complex, Area 10, Garki Abuja.
The Citizens gave the host space to penetrate their back line for the majority of the first half in the match week 2 of the Nigeria National League. Group A1, Northern Conference.
It was a ropey first half with few but encouraging sparks for City FC Abuja. Oscar Ejiofor’s flying drive skips narrowly past the upright in the 14th minute. Moments later, the hosts took the lead through a defensive miscommunication in the 19th minute.
Behind but not down, The Citizens laboured to restore parity throughout the remaining minutes of the first half but couldn’t get the equaliser.
Proceedings resumed in the second half and City became unstoppable from the restart , with flurry of chances presenting themselves. In the 53rd minute , Emmanuel Ihezuo, the leading goal scorer leveled up for City FC with an exquisite finish just inside the box.
Four minutes later, Emmanuel bags his second brace of the season to puts City in front from a seemingly impossible angle. He muscles and drags a FWC Champions defender inside the box before unleashing his drive low and hard beyond the reach of the host’s goalkeeper.
Staying up front, The Citizens had to hold on to the lead by the skin of their teeth – which eventually results to City’s goalkeeper getting sent off for simulation in the dying minutes.
Sunday Oko Achadu of city FC Abuja speaking with media said, “I feel excited, I’m so happy to get two-over-two. I really want to say a big thanks to my chairman, and the sporting director, my teeming fans, and also my good players. Football is all about 11/11. Despite the fact that they’re an old side in the league, I’ll still motivate my boys to go further to make me and themselves proud.”
⚽ 19′ Boslam Dawi
⚽ 53′ 57′ Emmanuel Ihezuo (CITY)
RED CARD – Oluwatosin Akiniyi [City]
