Abia Warriors held Rivers United To A Stalemate
Determined Abia Warriors held their host Rivers United to a goalless draw at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in match day 20 of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
In a game of clear cut chances for Rivers United in the first half of the encounter saw the host failed to bury several one-on-one opportunity when they come face to face with Uche Okafor.
Sochima Elum came close of scoring in the 35th minutes with a one-on-one encounter with Uche Okafor who tool firmly to denied him with a foot block.
Rivers United would have been two-three goals up the first half as they started brightly like a house on fire, knowing fully any short of three points will be their undoing.
Abia Warriors best moments of the game came in the 48th minutes as Ndifreke Effiong failed to put his effort pass Sunday Rotimi.
The visitors stepped up thier game to inflict pains on the host to ensure the deadlock is broken, Austine Festus and Gbadebo Samson failed to lose guard as the Umuahia base club makes some brilliant runs on the flanks.
The deadlock was however broken before the end of regulation by Osita Chikere as the Centre referee whistle for an offside.
Speaking to www.kelvianomedia.blogspot.com.ng after the blocked buster encounter technical manager of Abia Warriors Coach Emmanuel Deutcsh says the strategy is to block the Rivers United from developing their which could be dangerous to his side.
"We know the returning will be difficult, we see they are very strong physically, the strategy is to block them from developing their game and block the defensive line.
On his part the technical manager of Rivers United Coach Stanley Azunda Eguma was disappointed with the result, attributing his lost to finishing proble for his team.
"It's a game of football we tried our best and we got the chances, but we couldn't convert the chances that was created which is the greatest problem I have with the team.
"We build from the rare to attack and finishing is the problem". Eguma concluded.
Rivers United are place on 7th possible with 28th points from 20 matches played while Abia Warriors occupied 11th position with acrue points of 26th after match day 20 of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
Rivers United will now travel away to Maiduguri to trade tackles with their host in El-Kanemi Warriors while Abia make a long trip to Agege Stadium in Lagos to be hosted by MFM FC on match day 21 of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
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