Well-taken first half goals by Cyril Olisema and Bernard Ovoke settled a cracking Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest between Rivers United and Akwa United which finished 1-1 at the ‘Nest of Champions’ on Wednesday.
Olisema struck on nine minutes to give the Promise Keepers the lead at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium but they were soon pegged back by a spirited Rivers United side.
The Pride of Rivers refused to give in and battled back gamely.
They were back on level terms in the 26th minute through a well-worked gaol scored by electrifying winger, Bernard Ovoke.
Akwa United went into the game needing a win to get their NPFL campaign back on track following their 1-3 loss to Remo Stars on the opening weekend of the season.
They started on the front foot, pinning the Port Harcourt side to their own half and got due reward inside the opening ten minutes following an exhilarating counter attack after a rare foray upfront by Rivers United had ended in futility.
Olisema applied the finishing touch with a firm side-footed effort inside the box that the Rivers United goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi failed to keep out after Hassan Babangida crossed with pin-point accuracy from the left.
The hosts were unrelenting in their attacking play as they sought to press home their advantage with Christian Pyagbara central to their attacking forays.
As the minutes wore on, Rivers United slowly began to string the passes together and predictably, it was always going to spell trouble for the opposition.
The Port Harcourt side made the most of the momentum shift and were back on level terms just before the half hour as Ovoke swept home from close range after a delightful interchange of passes involving Guy Kuemian and Lukman Mohammed with the latter credited with the assist.
Akwa began the second half exactly as they started the first and almost got due reward three minutes after the break.
Pyagbara, a threat all afternoon, showed Ayobami Asekunowo a clean pair of heels on the far side before carving open the Rivers United defence with a brilliant low cross which Babangida just about failed to reach.
A minute later, the hosts came even closer to retaking the lead.
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi’s free kick caused panic in the Rivers box but Pyagbara somehow fluffed his lines from two yards with the goal gaping after Rotimi again flapped at a set piece.
Akwa United were the dominant side in the second half and but found a resolute Rivers United defence in uncompromising form.
Micahel Ibe, Alhassan Ibrahim and Pyagbara were all denied in the closing stages as Rivers United held out for a hard-fought point.
Akwa United’s head coach, Abdul Maikaba refused to fault his players despite their failure to amass maximum points, crediting them for giving their all in the game.
“There is improvement in the way I want them to play.
“Against ABS (in our last game), there was no movement in the team and it may have been caused by the long journey (we embarked on from Uyo to Illorin).
“I believe my boys gave their best but unfortunately, it was not good enough to see us beat Rivers United.
“I am happy with my boys played better in the second half; if they had played badly in the second half, I would have been disturbed as a coach.
“I believe we are getting better and the fans should expect a better performance in the next game,” Maikaba said at the post match press conference.
His opposite number, Stanley Eguma described the contest as ‘a good game’ and commended his charges for recovering from the early setback to claim for a share of the spoils.
“It was a good game. We wanted a win but got a draw in the end which is not too bad.
“Our opponents are very strong and they scored early in the first half which almost destabilized us.
“But I thank my players (as) they were able to comport themselves, showed confidence and equalized.
“The equalizer was the turning point in the game.
“We were under severe pressure in the second half because the home team came out very strong but we were able to stop their attacks,” the Rivers United technical manager said.
The result saw Rivers United move three places up on the log as they now occupy fourth place on the NPFL standings with four points from two matches.
Akwa United are in the relegation zone as they currently occupy 17th place on the log with a solitary point after their first two matches.
Match stats
Rivers United: Sunday Rotimi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Zoumana Doumbia, Emeka Atuloma, Festus Austine, Ayobami Asekunowo, Nzube Anaezemba (Olalekan Gabriel 84’), Lukman Mohammed (Emeka Ogbugh 70’), Guy Kuemian, Esosa Igbinoba and Ovoke Bernard (Bolaji Sakin 64’)
Substitutes not used: Femi Thomas, Markson Ojobo, Yusuf Jaiyeola and Okereke Maduabuchi.
Akwa United: Emmanuel Iwu, Otobong Effiong, Kodjo Dadzie, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Godspower Igudia, Babangida Hassan (Kufre Ebong 68’), Alhassan Ibrahim, Christian Pyagbara, Cyril Olisema (Michael Ibe 30’) and Ubong Friday (Moses Ebiye 38’).
Substitutes not used: Olufemi Kayode, Ofem Inah, Semiu Laidi, and Afeez Aremu.
Yellow cards
Rivers United: Zoumana Doumbia (35’), Lukman Mohammed (39’), and Sunday Rotimi (90’)
Akwa United: Nil
Read card: Nil
Goals:
Akwa United: Olisema (9’)
Rivers United: Ovoke (26’)
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