NPFL Match Day 8: MFM FC survive Niger Tornadoes’ scare to win 3-2

Group A table-toppers MFM Football Club on Sunday survived a scare from visiting Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna to come back from a first half 0-2 deficit to then win 3-2.
The win was in a Match Day 8 fixture in the abridged 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
It ensured the Lagos-based hosts maintained top spot for the third week running.
MFM FC trailed by two goals scored within the opening 10 minutes of play, through Peter Abashiya in the second minute and Jonathan Osondu in the 10th minute.
The hosts’ comeback began with a simple tap-in by Olawale Abisoye in the 45th minute after receiving a long throw from Jonathan Zikiye.
Michael Ohanu drew his side level in the 53rd minute, while the home team completed the comeback in the dying minutes of the tensed match.
Chucks Kenedinum received a long pass to beat an offside trap and score in the third minute of added time.
MFM FC’s coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, after the match, praised his team for their fighting spirit, adding that he did not put any pressure on the players during the half-time break.
“The players truly deserve praise for their efforts. While in the dressing room for the second half, I decided not to put pressure on them, I just told them to do the job.
“It does not matter to me anymore how we win, what we needed were the three points at stake because this game was important to us.
“However, when people said earlier that Niger Tornadoes are a weak side, I told them that it would make the game tougher, because they now have a new technical crew. Now, everybody can see what they did today.
“But I must commend our players today (Sunday), because they have made history being an entirely new set of players and still doing well.
“Others would have slipped down to the relegation zone. No team in the world can achieve that,” he said.