Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia lost 1-2 to Remo Stars in one of the games decided across the country to mark the end of the first round of the on going Nigeria Premier Football League.
It was actually a game of two halves as Remo Stars ran riot in the first stanza while most of the second half belonged to Abia Warriors
Most spectators were still making their way into the Remo Stars Stadium when Dela Akoru nodded the home team in front in the 10th minute as the Warriors defenders failed to clear their lines.
The goal woke Abia Warriors as they stepped up their game but failed to make hay in the final third.
With a 1-0 advantage, the home team went into the dressing room on a high but when play resumed, they met a different Abia Warriors that took the battle to them particularly after coach Erasmus Onuh effected some tactical changes bringing in the likes of Obi Samson, Sagir Musa and Paschal Nwabueze.
However, against the run of play, Remo got their second goal in the 63rd minute through Ahmed Akinyele who rose highest to nod home a corner kick as Abia Warriors demonstrated their vulnerability in set pieces again.
In a counter attack that involved Nwabueze, Obi and Adejoh Ojonugwa, the ball found Chidera Ugwunna who located Sunday Megwo and the former Abia Comets hitman pulled one back for the Warriors with a diving header in the 69th minute.
Thereafter, it was the Warriors everywhere but they failed to find the cutting edge as Remo Stars held on to pocket all the three points at stake.
Among the spectators who watched the highly entertaining encounter is the member representing Umuahia Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Chinasa Anthony Abiola, and his men who cheered the Warriors ceaselessly as the game lasted.
