Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt commenced their 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL campaign on a promising note after playing out a goalless draw against Kano Pillars.
The entertaining NPFL match-day one encounter was played at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
United started well with Ossy Martins coming close to opening the scoring in the third minute but his rasping drive just about flew off the target.
Pillars responded gamely four minutes later and were unfortunate not to take the lead with Nyima Nwagua shooting narrowly wide from close range.
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Clear cut chances were few and far in the game which was never lacking in intensity and on 53 minutes, Chijioke Alaekwe’s header just about failed to give Pillars the advantage as the United goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande gathered with ease.
Malachi Ohawume thought he had given United the lead just before the hour mark but his effort was chalked off for offside with the forward already wheeling away in celebration.
The lively Fortune Omoniwari caused the Pillars defence some problems upon his introduction later on but there was to be no scoring in a lively contest which saw both sides settle for a share of the spoils.
The Kano Pillars head coach, Ibrahim Musa was less than pleased with his side’s failure to score against the Port Harcourt club.
Ibrahim Musa said he will work on the finishing of his strikers. He said the team will only go far in the league when strikers can convert their chances.
On his part, Technical Manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma praised his lads for getting a point in Kano.
“It was a good game. Both teams played good football. We had a lot of chances which we couldn’t convert and next time we have to correct that especially when we play at home against Heartland in our next game,” Eguma said.
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