A rampant Rivers United side shrugged off an early scare to overwhelm visiting MFM 4-1 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.
Austin Ogunye stunned the hosts with a 29th minute strike before goals by Guy Kueiman and Bermard Ovoke completed the turnaround for Rivers United as the interval beckoned. Kuieman got his brace just after the hour mark before Yusuf Jayieola ensured no coming back for the visitors with an acrobatic finish in the 68th minute.
Both sides came into the fixture brimming with confidence following impressive midweek outings. The visitors had just completed a season double over Nasarawa United while Rivers United had battled a point off Enyimba on Thursday. The early exchanges saw two evenly matched teams with few chances from either side. Chinwendu, Ovoke and Weli all came close for the hosts within the opening half but for Weli's strike, Folarin in the MFM goal rarely had a save to make.
The game would be turned in its head when Chukwuka Onuwa neatly nipped the ball off Jayeiola and bore down on goal. His precise pass sent Ogunye through and the striker made no mistakes when faced with Rotimi, stroking beyond the veteran goalkeeper, he became the first opposition player to score against Rivers United in Port Harcourt this season. But the response was instant and within two minutes, Rivers United were level, Ivorian striker Guy Kuieman stabbed home with MFM defenders trying unsuccessfully to play the striker offside.
Kano Pillars target, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi squandered a chance to restore MFM's advantage when he was teed up at the edge of the area but he spooned over. It was costly because two minutes later, Bernard Ovoke put Rivers United ahead. Ali Chinwendu's inch perfect cornerkick found the winger unmarked in the area. He would nod past Folarin to make it 2-1. With the tide turned, Rivers kept up their dominance and although they did look fragile whenever MFM came at them, they preserved their lead till the interval.
Stephen Odey was brought on shortly after the interval as the visitors sought their way back into the game and the lively Olatubosun saw his effort fly narrowly wide of Rotimi's left. Minutes earlier, Kueiman's header had drawn out a fine save off Folarin. But Stephen Odey should have leveled for MFM in the 65th minute when his well struck effort banged off the woodwork. The hosts were living dangerously and they knew an insurance goal was necessary.
They turned on the screw and in a devastating two minutes, they put the game to bed. Folarin spilled Ovoke's curled freekick and a waiting Kueiman nodded into the open goal. The fourth followed immediately as MFM were yet again harried into ceding possession just outside their box. Kuieman, freed on the right, crossed into the MFM box and Jayeiola arriving into the area added the fourth.
The League's newcomers have been outfought, out-thought and totally outclassed. The title contenders march on.
Match details
Rivers United: Rotimi, Inah, Ali, Jaiyeola, Olalekan, Austine, Ovoke, Okonkwo, Kuemian, Weli, Nnaebuo
Subs: Ayalogu, Afrane, Ayobami, Israel, Anubi, Obinze Godwin, Okafor
MFM: Folarin, Opara, Olawale, Uwaga, Bashiru, Ifeanyi, Oladele, Chukwuka Olatunbosun, Adegboyega, Ogunye
Subs: Nasamu, Odey, Akor, Irumekhai, Semiu, Anifowoshe, Abara
Stats
Attempts 8-3
Shots on Target 10-2
Fouls Committed: 12-16
Corner kicks 5-4
Offsides 3-1
Yellow 2-0
Red 0-0
Attempts 8-3
Shots on Target 10-2
Fouls Committed: 12-16
Corner kicks 5-4
Offsides 3-1
Yellow 2-0
Red 0-0
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