NPFL: ‘We Should Have Won,’ Says Rivers United Coach
Rivers United head coach Stanley Eguma said the club “should have won” after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Abia Warriors in MatchDay 13 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in Okigwe, Abia State.
In the 35th minute, the game took an unexpected turn when Warriors attacker Valentine Odoh was sent off following an off-the-ball altercation with Rivers United captain Temple Emekayi. However, Warriors took a shock lead in first half stoppage time when Paul Samson poked the ball beyond goalkeeper Vincent Edafe from a corner kick.
Rivers United became more purposeful in the second half and levelled matters within four minutes of the restart when Uche Onwuasonaya volleyed Joseph Onoja’s left wing cross home. Rivers United who were dislodged from the top of table by Plateau United could not reclaim the top spot as they missed numerous scoring chances.
“Well, I think it’s not a bad result because we were able to salvage a point but I think that we should have won this game because we dominated from the beginning to the end,” Rivers United coach Eguma said.
“Even when they (Abia Warriors) scored their goal against the run of play, our players came back in the second half and responded quickly and the pressure was on them.”
“We dominated the game and played better. We attacked more and we should have been able to get the winning goal especially the last minute glaring chance that Fortune Omoniwari lost. But that’s football,” he added.
Rivers United’s next game is against Rangers International who climbed to third position after a narrow win over Nasarawa United in Nnewi on Thursday. The game will hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday.
Mid-week NPFL results
Chidi Nwoke/NPFL.
