Rivers United

Bernard Ovoke was the match winner for Rivers United as they overpowered Niger Tornadoes 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game decided on Sunday at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Ovoke cut in from the right and curled home an unstoppable effort past the despairing Niger Tornadoes goal keeper, Mustapha Aliko in the 22nd minute.

It turned out to be the only goal of the contest as United remained in third spot on NPFL table, two points adrift of the leaders, Wikki Tourists.

Ovoke and Guy Kuemian missed excellent chances to extend the lead of United in the first half but it was the visitors that had the best chance of an exciting opening period.

Clumsy defending by Olalekan Gabriel gifted the Minna club a penalty in the 33rd minute but Gabriel Wassa dragged his effort wide from 12 yards off Sunday Rotimi’s left hand post.

Clear cut opportunities were few and far between in the second half.

Ovoke wasted the best chance of the half as he shot straight at Aliko in the 54th minute.

Wassa hit the side-netting late on as the visitors tried to claim an equalizer.

The Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma lauded his charges for the win but rued the missed chances that came their way.

“We did not underestimate Tornadoes because we know they are a very strong team.

“They gave us a tough battle as we expected but in the end, we were able to win and that was the most important thing.

“They played well but if we had converted the chances we got today, the margin of victory would have been wider,” Eguma told Rivers United Media.

Tornadoes head coach, Bala Abubakar also fielded questions after the contest and refused to blame Wassa for the penalty miss in the first half.

“It was a difficult one and a very sad one because it could have given us the equalizer.

“Unfortunately, that is football and anyone can miss a penalty.

“We are not happy about the loss but there is nothing we can do about it because it is part of the game,” he said.

Rivers United have now amassed 41 points from 24 matches while Tornadoes, with 32 points from 24 matches occupy 13th place on the standings.

Meanwhile, match Day 26 witnessed a change in leadership on the summit of the League, which only lasted for less than 48 hours, following Wikki Tourists’ score draw in Warri.

Rangers had eclipsed the Bauchi side on Friday night after disposing oriental neighbours, Abia Warriors 2-1 in Enugu. It was the first time in many weeks that Abdu Maikaba’s men were overthrown, in what has been a season filled with amazing thrills.

A total of 21 goals, seven wins and three draws characterized the match day, which saw one of the season’s amazing phenomenon, Ismaila Gata finding the back of the net yet again.

At the Warri City Stadium, Wolves thought they had subdued leaders, Wikki Tourists, through Ewenike Achibi’s header in the 32nd minute. But the visitors had better ideas and waited patiently for the magical moment, which surfaced in the 90th minute through Idris Guda Mohammed. The home side wrapped up the game with 10 men following the dismissal of Shedrack Oghali.

Kano Pillars put behind their disappointing 2-1 loss away to Akwa United on match day 25, with a convincing 3-0 win over visiting Lobi Stars of Makurdi. Adamu Mohammed got the hosts to a flying start within 66 seconds of kickoff, before Rabiu Ali added the second from the spot after the half hour mark. Jamiu Alimi netted the third in the 74th minute, as Lobi’s quest to reduce the deficit was denied when Pillars goalkeeper David Obiazo saved Raphael Ayagwa’s penalty, ten minutes to time.

At the Lekan Salami Stadium, Abdulrahman Bashir’s opener for Nasarawa United looked poised to spell doom for Shooting Stars, but the Oluyole Warriors had to wait till the hour mark to restore parity through Promise Ebiaku, from a penalty. Izu Joseph launched the crowd to a frenzy, when he scrambled home the winner in added time.

Ikorodu United’s chances of beating the drop suffered a major setback, as they had to force FC Ifeanyiubah to a 1-1 draw in Lagos. Gata gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half, before Fatai Abdullahi’s excellent free kick was headed in by Paul Dike in the 55th minute, for the leveller.

Ubong Friday’s effort in the 75th minute rescued a point for Akwa United of Uyo at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos. Zachary Baraje’s men had earlier taken the lead through Kelechi John, four minutes into the second half.

In the games played on Saturday, struggling Heartland FC left it late against champions, Enyimba, as Bright Ejike’s goal from the spot in added time earned maximum points, while El-Kanemi Warriors dismissed MFM 3-1 in Maiduguri.

Rangers edged oriental neighbours Abia Warriors 2-1 in a tightly contested game on Friday night. Obinna Nwobodo gave Imama’ Amapakabo’s side the lead in the 15th minute, before Chisom Egbuchulam doubled their advantage in the 35th minute. Michael Olaha’s late consolation could not salvage Kennedy Boboye’s team from yet another defeat on the road.