Aklosendi International of Lafia on Saturday defeated 10-men Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC 2-0 with goalkeeper Nasir Toheeb having another fantastic outing for the Saraki Boys.
The match was played at the Lafia Township Stadium.
The ABS young goalkeeper, Toheeb, put up a scintillating performance in the encounter that handed the Saraki Boys its first defeat of the season having won two, drew another at home and a goalless draw way to Giodano FC of Kano on match day 2.
The first finest opportunity of the game saw ABS Alao Danbani glided an opportunity he should have jabbed home at close range inside the 6 yard box in the 9th minute of play.
Aklosendi responded well 20 minutes later when Ismaila Bello flashed a shot across the ABS Post for a goal kick.
Aklosendi fans celebration was cut shot in the 32nd minute when they realised that Luka Ambina shot hit the side netting instead of the back of the net.
In the 43rd minute, David Okoromi and Charles Eguavon combined well in front of Aklosendi 18 yard box before Eguavon laid the ball for an incoming Jamiu Issa whose shot went wide.
The Saraki Boys restarted the game better than their hosts as Danbani in the 48th minute controlled a pass with his chest to beat his marker but there was no one to help at the time and he shot at goal but Joseph Jatau dealt well with it.
Toheeb showed why he replaced ABS first choice goalkeeper, Chima Moses in the match when he kept out Mustapha Usman’s free kick in a sumptuous save in the 68th minute.
The Saraki Boys were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when Okoromi received his 2nd yellow card of the game for misconduct.
Aklosendi would have been ahead in the 78th minute when substitute Fidelis Clement whipped a powerful shot across the ABS goal but non of his team mates was on hand to connect the pass.
Toheeb received a huge applause from the spectators when he stretched fully on air to save a curling shot aiming for the net in the 85th minute.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 86th minute, when Aklosendi’s best player on the pitch Ismaila Bello capitalised on ABS defense communication gap to make it 1-0.
The hosts doubled the lead on the stoppage time when Fidelis Clement connected a quick restart from the free kick to end the game at 2-0.
ABS will now host their match day 5 opponents on match day 6 in Ilorin.
