NPFL: Rivers United downs Katsina United in Port Harcourt

Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu

Rivers United FC was in a great form as they beat Katsina United two-nil in a week eight game of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Goals from Michael Gopey and Ishaq Rafiu gave Rivers United the much-needed victory over a poor Katsina United side.

Gopey’s fabulous strike in the fifth minute set the tone for a dominant and powerful first-half display from the hosts who could have added three more, at the very least, in a largely one-sided first half in which the visitors failed to muster a single shot on target.

United continued to dominate in the second half and it was only a matter of time before consistent pressure led to a second goal by the impressive Ishaq who finished off impressively in the 75th minute.

Also Read: NNL: Go Round pip Gateway FC in Omoku

Esor Nelson picked up a second Yellow card with a little over nine minutes remaining to put a blur on an otherwise perfect day in the office for the hosts.

Technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma stopped short of describing Sunday’s display as his side’s best of the season.

“No, it wasn’t our best display of the season because we still need to be more clinical in front of goal,” he told newsmen.

“It is not yet time for us to celebrate. Sometimes, we play and we don’t score goals.

“Today, we scored two but I believe that we could have scored more,” he said.

Henry Makinwa, head coach of Katsina United, said his team lacked potency in the game.

“Clinically, we were very poor,” he said.

Rivers United has moved into seventh place in the NPFL standings with 12 points from eight matches.

United next travel to Uyo where they will face Akwa United on Wednesday.

Leave a Reply