By: Ilekam ikechukwu (Flakes)

God'swill Kalu was the hero of the day for visiting Young Lions FC of Umuahia as his 40th minute strike sank hosts Jewels Football Academy in a keenly contested friendly match.

The encounter which was held at the Community Secondary School Ohanze lived up to the billing with early flashes of brilliance from the home team when striker John Etang had the goal at his mercy inside 5 minutes of the contest only for his effort to narrowly evade target as the gangling forward missed a glorious opportunity that would eventually hunt his side.

The surge for the opening goal was shared between both sides as the jostling for midfield dominance was ruthlessly contested inside the harsh climatic condition where both players of the respective teams sweated profusely until on the stroke of halftime when centre back Nkemjika Udonsi had to release front man God'swill Kalu who intelligently beat off the offside trap set by the backline of their hosts to calmly beat the opposition's goalkeeper as the young lions went in front prior to the halftime break.

The hosts resumed the second half with renewed intent and roared loud for parity to be restored with flurry of goalscoring chances but he goalkeeping heroics of Ifeanyi Awa proved decisive at intervals keeping the hosts at bay. 

The Jewels Academy front men threw everything at the visitors all in the quest to draw level but the defensive synergy between centre backs Rex Daniel and Nkemjika Udonsi stood tall throughout the duration of the contest as the visitors registered a famous win on a turf that overtime has been a fortress for the hosts establishing the fact that the journey from the state capital yielded dividends for the young lions.

For Young Lions FC, the Enyimba citywide tour continues next week with another highly anticipated friendly engagement with Enyimba feeders billed for next week at the Elephant Park.