Rivers United drown ABS FC

Christian Weli and Godbless Asamoah scored in each half as Rivers United beat ABS FC 2-0 in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game in Port Harcourt on Thursday. 

ABS should have opened the scoring in the 34th minute through Adesina Gata who struck the cross bar with a fierce drive with the hosts displaying some atrocious bit of defending. 

United made them pay for that miss four minutes later through Weli who opened the scoring in opportunistic fashion following good work by striker, Guy Kuemian.

ABS dominated the game for long stretches afterwards but failed to make territorial advantage count.

United closed out the win in the 82nd minute when Asamoah swept home from close range after he was set up with a low cross by impressive right back, Ifeanyi Nweke.

The win was United’s first win three successive losses in the NPFL and it meant the ‘Pride of Rivers’ have now risen two places on the log to 17th with 18 points from 15 matches.

ABS are now winless in their last six attempts in the NPFL and remain in 13th place with 22 points from 17 matches. 

Quotes

Henry Makinwa (Head coach; ABS FC)

Adeshina Gata’s miss affected the outcome of the game. If we had scored that goal, psychologically, my boys would have been able to play better football and maybe gone on to score a second goal.

But they lost that opportunity and ten, five minutes later, they (Rivers United) got a goal.

I think (that miss) affected the psychology of my boys.

Willy Udube (Chief coach; Rivers United FC)

We (Rivers United FC) just came back from a very long journey. We spent two days on the road from Gombe to Port Harcourt.

There was the case of fatigue and we are lucky that we had a victory.

I strongly believe that this victory is going to propel the team because it has given the players confidence. 

Teams

Rivers United: Akande Abiodun, Ifeanyi Nweke, Zoumana Doumbia, Yusuf Jaieyeola, Joseph Douhadji, Ayobami Asekunowo, Bernard Ovoke (Israel Daniel 60’), Chritian Weli (Godbless Asamoah 40’), Guy Kuemian (Lukman Mohammed 71’), Nzube Anaezemba and Emeka Ogbugh.

Substitutes not used: Femi Thomas, Gabriel Wassa, Markson Ojocbo and Frederick Obomate. 

ABS FC: Suleiman Dogo, Ibrahim Ahmed, Ibrahim Omolayo, Chukwuebuka Anaekwe, Samuel Oyedeji, Abubakar Chindo (Arinze Uyota 77’), Adeshina Gata, Eugene Ossy, Wasiu Alalade (Chigozirim Metu 55’) and Stone Evbuomwan (Mohammed Mohammed 80’).

Substitutes not used: Yinka Adewale, Ebuka Franklin, Bassey Effiom and Emmanuel Ugbo. </p>

Yellow cards

Rivers United: Godbless Asamoah (58’)

ABS FC: Ibrahim Ahmed (51’) and Arinze Oyota (88’)

Red cards: Nil

Goals: Christian Weli (38’) and Godbless Asamoah (83’