soccer120: RIVERS UNITED

Showing posts with label RIVERS UNITED. Show all posts

Match Report: Rivers United exacerbate Heartland of Owerri tribulations

By Unknown 12:14:00 HEARTLAND, LMC, NEWS, NPFL, RIVERS UNITED

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit

Rivers United fielded a full strength team which included their star man Bernard Ovoke who just returned from trials with Lillestrom in Norway. The home side wasted no time in making their intentions known as they almost drew the first blood in the 6th minute as Obomate almost scored but the ball hit the side netting.

Guy Kumian almost gave Rivers United the lead as he attempted a spectacular volley but the went over the bar. moments later Chinonso Okonkwo struck from the edge of the box but Heartland goalkeeper Ebele Obi did well to tip the ball over the bar.

Heartland's Jika Abubakar almost gave Heartland the lead via a free kick as the ball deceived Rivers United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi only for it to hit the upright bar.

The heavens opened as the rains started but that did not deter Rivers United from taking the lead via Christian Weli as he headed home a Guy Kuemian beautiful cross.

Heartland almost responded with the equalizer but Rivers United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi showed classed to deny Heartland's Gabriel Ebute

In the 41st minute returnee Bernard Ovoke was brought down as he went on his trademark run. He converted the free kick but missed it like a school boy.

Coach Ransom Madu of Heartland made the first substitution of the game as he introduced former Rivers United player Emeka Atuloma for Roland Koffi and Emeka Ogbugh for Gabriel Ebute.

Coach Stanley Eguma of Rivers United made his own substitution as Onyekachi Okafor came in For Returnee Bernard Ovoke.

It was a ding dong affair as the two side struggled to take the chances that came their way with Rivers United Onyekachi Okafor the highest culprit.

Coach Stanley Eguma threw in Ofem Inah for Fredrick Obomate with the hope to get that all important second goal.

Minutes later Onyekachi Okafor missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 but he missed it despite having just the goalkeeper to beat.

Coach Eguma brought in Victor Alegbe for but he had little impart as Rivers United held on foe a win which catapulted them to top spot. As for Heartland players they left the field showing signs of despondency.

Stats

Shots: 8-6
On Target: 3-2
Fouls Won: 18-19
Corners: 5-2
Offside: 2-2
Yellow: 0-1
Red: 0-0
Possession: 51%-49%

Gallary

NPFL Preview: Rivers United versus Ikorodu United

By Unknown 06:21:00 IKORODU UNITED, LMC, NEWS, NPFL, RIVERS UNITED

It is the classic tale of David versus Goliath-title chasing Rivers United squaring up against relegation threatened, Ikorodu United in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash in Port Harcourt.

The game was initially scheduled to hold on July 31 but was postponed after players and officials of Rivers United were involved in an auto crash that left several members of the club hospitalized.

Rivers United won the reverse fixture 3-2 with Guy Kuemian, Wilson Andoh and Chinonso Okonkwo all scoring to render Ifegwu Ojokwu’s brace academic at the Onikan Stadium on March 23.

Ojukwu will not play in Thursday’s contest at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt as he has since joined another NPFL side, Shooting Stars.

United in stark contrast, have all three men who scored at Onikan, five months ago, all available for selection as they have been included in the match day squad by technical manager, Stanley Eguma.

The Port Harcourt side have since reinforced their squad with former Warri Wolves attacker, Onyekachi Okafor who provides an extra offensive threat.

However, United have found goals extremely difficult to come by in recent weeks as they have failed to score in their last three games in all competitions.

Goalkeeper of Rivers United, Godwin Anyalogu knows things must change if their title aspirations are to be put back on track and insists the ‘Pride of Rivers’ cannot contemplate any result other than a win on Thursday.

Form guide (last five NPFL matches)

Rivers United (LLWWL)

Rivers United 0-1 Nasarawa United (Away)

Rivers United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes (Home)

Rivers United 2-0 Shooting Stars (Home)

Rivers United 0-1 Sunshine Stars (Away)

Rivers United 0-1 El Kanemi Warriors (Away)

Ikorodu United (DDDLD)

Ikorodu United 1-1 Akwa United (Home)

Ikorodu United 1-3 MFM FC (Away)

Ikorodu United 1-1 Lobi Stars (Away)

Ikorodu United 1-1 FCIU (Home)

Ikorordu United 2-2 Nasarawa United (Home).

NPFL Match Preview: Rivers United vs EL -Kanemi Warriors ( Rivers United won 1-0 in the First meeting in Port Harcourt)

By Unknown 05:04:00 EL-KANEMI, NPFL, RIVERS UNITED

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit

Its not looking good for the Maiduguiri Warriors as they have a battle on their hands to escape relegation with nine games to go before the season comes to an end. They've been imperious at home, but very abject on the road which was clearly evident in their 3-0 spanking at the hands of Nassarawa United last week Saturday, culminating in their current precarious situation.

This weekend, they take on the league's third best team, Rivers United. The Port-Hacourt based side were scheduled to take on whipping boys Ikorodu United last week but were halted as a road accident on their way home from Ibadan, venue of their Federeations Cup quarter-finals defeat to Enyimba saw the game postponed. They lost their last league game prior to that, which was a 1-0 defeat to Sunshine Stars FC in Akure. Coach Stanley Eguma will be hoping his boys can bounce back here by getting a result to inject life into their League title bid.

They trail leaders Enugu Rangers by four points, albeit, with two games in hand and a positive result here would put pressure on the leaders and a win will likely move up one ‎place up into 2nd position. The likes of Onoachom and Bata will be ‎seeking to get the goals for the Warriors. Rivers could find it difficult to score as El-Kanemi doesn't concede too many goals at home.

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS STATISTIC

They are currently placed Sixteen on the NPFL log

They have picked up 11 wins from 27 matches played so far.

They have lost 13 times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and Two times at home this season.

They are yet to win an away game in the NPFL so far this season

They have won 11 times at home this season.

They have drawn once at home this season and none away

They have conceded 6 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 28 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 25 goals while playing at home this season and 9 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating El- Kanemi Warriors 3-0 at home

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Lobi stars and Akwa United 3-0 and 3-1 respectively away from home.

They have failed to score in nine away games and one home games

They have kept nine Clean sheets at home and none away from home this season.

Rivers United statistic

They are currently placed third on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 14 wins from 26 matches played so far.

They have lost Ten times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and have never lost at home this season.

They have won two away games in the NPFL which was against Ikorodu United and Warri Wolves

They have conceded 2 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 18 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 19 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 9 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating MFM 4-1 at home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to IfeanyiUba 2-0 away from home.

They have failed to score in SEVEN away games and One home game this season.

They have kept thirteen Clean sheets ( Eleven at home and two away)

Match refs

Ibrahim Isiyaku

1: Moses Ojo

2: Adedeji Adebayo

4TH OFFICIAL: A. Abdulrazak

Bosso talks tough ahead Rivers United clash

By Unknown 01:22:00 EL-KANEMI, NPFL, RIVERS UNITED

Ladan Bosso, Head Coach of Nigeria Professional Football League side, El-Kanemi Warriors is talking tough as his team gets set to face Rivers United this weekend.

Bosso whose Maiduguri club have been flawless at home this season said he expects nothing short of a win over United this term.

“We are going for all three points on Saturday. In as much as we respect the big sides in the league, we do not fear them and that is why we are undefeated against all big sides in Maiduguri this season.

“Rivers United must be prepared to lose to us on Saturday,” he said.

Indeed, no side has escaped defeat at the El-Kanemi Sports Complex in Maiduguri this term while it is also on record that only MFM FC have scored in Maiduguri this season as El-Kanemi kept clean sheets in all their previous league games there this term.

RIVERS UNITED VS IKORODU UNITED ( Rivers United won 3-2 in the First meeting in Lagos )

By soccer120 14:47:00 IKORODU UNITED, LMC, NPFL, RIVERS UNITED

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit

Its been a terrible week for Rivers United as they go into this game on the back of two consecutive defeats. Firstly, they lost 1-0 to a Dele Olorundare's wonder goal in last week's game to Sunshine Stars.

They played Enyimba FC of Aba on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Federations Cup. The game wasn't completed due to heavy downpour which saw the game moved to Thursday which they eventually lost.

Head to Head

The two team have meet just once previously with Rivers United running out as away winners.Rivers United won that game 3-2.

Things got worse when the team bus had an accident on their way back from the venue of the cup tie at about 9pm on the same day. Goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi and a host of other players were seriously injured. It almost a no-brainer that this game won't hold on Sunday although nothing has been confirmed by the League Management Company.

Ikorodu United come into this game all but doomed after another spirited performance could only muster a point as they were pegged back twice in their 2-2 draw against Nassarawa United.

A leaky defence has been their Achilles heel all season and its showing no sign of abating. It has to be noted that Stanley Eguma's side won the reverse fixture 3-2 at the Onikan Stadium where the combination of calamitous and comical defending were the hosts undoing on the day. On paper, it should be a walk in the park for the hosts.