Rivers United vs Lobi Stars

Recap

10-MAN LOBI STARS LOSE GALLANTLY TO RIVERS UNITED BY A LONE GOAL IN PORT-HARCOURT.

A 15th minute strike by burly attacker, Nyima Nwagua, at the edge of the penalty following a momentary loss of concentration by Endurance Ebedebiri and Moses Tsehuan was enough to give Rivers United a slim 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars in the NPFL 2021/2022 Match-day 21 fixture on Thursday, April 8 in Port-Harcourt.

Though Lobi Stars failed to trip their hosts, they indeed showed some class as they resisted the star studded Rivers United with vehemence and proved that they are no pushovers despite their not too impressive standing on the log.

Rivers United got more than what they bargained for as the Pride of Benue put up a spirited fight through out the duration of the keenly contested fixture at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka stadium.

Rivers United took the kick-off and sustained early pressure on Lobi Stars which was rewarded with two early corner kicks in the 3rd and 10th minute.

The first corner kick taken by former Lobi Stars defender, Ebube Duru, saw Onoja Joseph with a conversion header but the timely coverage by goalkeeper Emeka Onyia saved the situation.

A second and third attempt at goal by Rivers United’s Morice Chukwu failed to put the homers ahead.

Lobi Stars’ hard like nail midfielder, Azeez Shobowale, collided with Duru and both players had to be attended to by the medics.

In the 14th minute, Adams Olamilekan replaced injured Shobowale but a minute after the substitution, Nyima Nwagua went in between two Lobi Stars defenders, Endurance Ebedebiri and Moses Tsehuan to strike from the fringe of the penalty arc to the far right for Rivers United only goal of the match.

The early attacking strength of ‘The Garden City boys’ gradually died off as the ‘glory to glory boys’ of Benue began to probe for an equaliser.

The relentless search almost paid off when Ebedebiri dropped a long pass behind the defense of the home boys and the fast pace of Olamilekan got him first to the ball but his heavy touch took the ball out of his reach to goalkeeper Sochima Victor.

Despite their early lead, Rivers United continued to seek for more goals as the trio of Ishaq Kayode, Nyima Nwagua and Onoja Joseph kept Lobi Stars defence busy till the end of the first half.

Lobi Stars re-started the second half and almost drew level immediately as a forward kick by Raphael Ayagwa was mistimed by Sochima but as the ball was goal bound, the keeper recovered quickly to catch up with the ball before it could cross the goal line.

And in the 49th minute, an interconnect between Duke Osimaga and Samuel Ganda got the latter down the right flank and his intended cross fluked towards the goal but went slightly over the cross bar.

Coach Baba Ganaru then added bite to his attack in the 58th minute as John Chukwudi and former international, Solomon Kwambe gave way for Ifeanyi Ogba and Tony Agbaji who was worthy of his inclusion as the former captain instantly became a stabilising factor for Lobi Stars through to the final whistle.

The continued quest for an equaliser prompted Coach Ganaru to bring in Sa’id Mubarak and Douglas Achiv in place of Ayagwa and Utim Geoffrey and Lobi Stars fortunes continued to improve as the match progressed.

At a point, Rivers United resorted to time wasting in a bid to douse the pressure in order to escape with the lone goal.

The last 15 minutes of the game kept the star studded table toppers doing the defensive job.

However, Lobi Stars’ hopes for an equaliser evaporated into thin air when substitute, Ifeanyi Ogba, the team’s highest goal scorer, was given the matching order by the referee in the 89th minute for a rash challenge on Ndasi.

The five minutes second half added time couldn’t make any difference and the final whistle went for the end of the game as Rivers United escaped with the lone goal.

Meanwhile, fans of Rivers United who spoke to Lobi Stars Media attested to the fact that they never had such quality of opposition in the current season at the Adokie Amiesiamaka Stadium.

Line Up: Emeka Onyia, Ganda Samuel, Ubong Williams, Kwambe Solomon (Tony Agbaji 58″), Endurance Ebedebiri, Moses Tsehuan, Osimaga Duke,
Ayagwa Raphael (Douglas Achiv 74″) Jonah Chukwudi ( Ifeanyi Ogba 58″), Azeez Shobowale (Adams Olamilekan 11″), Utim Godfrey (Said Mubarak 74″)

Unused Subs: Aliko Mustapha, Odinaka Francis, Onyebuchi Onyeaka,, Onuwa Chukwuka

Cautions: Endurance Ebedebiri 19″, Moses Tsehuan 70″,

Expulsion: Ifeanyi Ogba 89″

Up next; Lobi Stars will head back to Makurdi to host former champions Kano Pillars on Sunday April 10, 2022 in an NPFL Match-day 22.