Jude scores 1st season’s hat-trick as Kwara United wallops Adamawa Utd 5-0

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Stephen Jude of Kwara United scored the first hat-trick of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season after Matchday 17, in his team’s 5-0 win over Adamawa United FC of Yola today in Ilorin. 

The offensive midfielder also assisted Michael Ohanu’s brace in the match played at Kwara Stadium Complex and dominated by the homers. 

Kwara United’s coach Abdullahi Biffo made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Kano Pillars on Wednesday in Kaduna. 

The duo of Issa Gata and Lucas Alves took the place of Kamal Sikiru and Samuel Chisom in the starting line up in the win over Adamawa United. 

Kwara United were in front foot as early as the 6th minute when Michael Ohanu beat the offside trap, to send the ball past Adamawa United’s goalkeeper, Friday Achimugu.

Jude would have doubled the lead for Kwara United in the 17th minute when he missed a sitter from the six yard box after Ohanu’s back heel found him in the box from a goal-mouth scrambling.

Brazilian Lucas Alves connected Taiwo Salaudeen’s perfect cross but he could not direct his header directly into the opposition’s net in the 29th minute to miss another chance for the homers.

Jude scored his 5th of the season from a goal mouth scrambling in the 34th minute to double Kwara United’s advantage.

Six minutes later, Issa Gata lifted very highly to connect Muritala Lawal’s cross but his header went inches away from goal and failed to make it 3-0 for Kwara United in the 40th minute.

The game restarted with Kwara United dominating proceedings with Nosir Afeez and Jide Fatokun punctuating every Adamawa United’s dangerous moves. 

The duo of Jude and Ohanu were hard knots to crack for Adamawa United defense as they tormented them each time Kwara United surged forward. 

Jude scored Kwara United’s third goal of the match in the 60th minute, his second of the game when he latched into the root of the net from Jide Fatokun’s short pass. 

Jude scored again one minute later, in what initially looked like his hat-trick of the game but this time the Assistant Referee’s flag went up for an offside and the goal thus disallowed. 

Adamawa United’s first goal scoring opportunity came in the 64th minute when Sadiq Lawan forced Kwara United’s goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba to a double save before his finally effort went out of play for a goal kick. 

Jude released Ohanu and laid a short pass before him in the 71th minute, the striker had a perfect first touch before sending the ball to Achimugu’s far left as the goalkeeper watched the ball rolled into his own net for Kwara United’s 4th goal of the match. 

Seven minutes later, Adamawa United’s goalkeeper, Achimugu defended brilliantly to deny Ohanu as he was close to scoring an hat-trick, after receiving a perfect pass from Muritala Lawal. 

Jude missed another big opportunity to score again in the 79th minute as he directed a very clear cut chance wide. 

Adamawa United’s midfielder, Jamilu Danjuma had the best chance of the game for the visitors in the 81th minute when his header hits the post and went out of play. 

With three minutes into the the injury time, Jude completed his hat-trick when he rounded off Adamawa United’s goalkeeper before sending a low shot into the visitors’ net.
Kwara United will next Sunday, engage Katsina United in Katsina, in a Matchday 18 encounter.

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