By Abdul Raheem
Rivers United nicked a hard fought draw in Kano against Jigawa Golden Stars to go joint top of the table with Plateau United after a Festus Austin late own goal cancelled Cletus Emotan early first half strike in the MatchDay 16 of the 2019/2020 NPFL season at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano on Monday.
The visitors believed they have won the game as the 14th minute Cletus Emotan strike gave them the opening goal, but the home side fought back in the second half to nick a late equaliser few minutes to go, when Mujaheed Ibrahim’s strike was turned into the net by skipper Festus Austin for an own goal.
The Badaru Boys, who had earlier lost at home to Plateau United and Akwa United, were wary of losing all points to another United side and eager to win to get out of relegation. Thus, they started the match with all seriousness but were jittery in the midfield and misfiring in the attack. As early as the third minute they had their first chance at goal but it went begging.
Three minutes later, Moshood Kasali sprung the offside trap and was face to face with the keeper but had his efforts saved twice by Akande Abiodun in Rivers United goal.
But against the run of play, Rivers opened scoring when Emotan latched onto a pass in the box to tap home. The goal energised the visitors, but woke up Jigawa who fought back like raging bull with Kasali Moshood shooting wide when given a good chance. Ali Kalla was next to waste a counter attack effort in the second half.
Ishaq Rafiu drew out a save from Kenneth Christopher in Jigawa Stars’ goal, as Ali Kalla again shot wide. Rivers’ Stephen Gopey dribbled past the Jigawa defence before cutting back for his teammate but the pass was cut out for a corner kick.
Substitute Mujaheed Ibrahim and Pascal Eke had two shots cleared on the goal line before the equaliser came. Efforts by both sides to clinch the winner were abortive.
Speaking after the match, Jigawa Stars Coach, Rabiu Tata commended his players for their fighting spirit, while assuring their fans that they will fight their way out of relegation.
“I appreciate the way the players played. We are in the relegation zone but we will find our way out. Playing away from our home in Kano affects us but we have to adapt to the situation we found ourselves. I appreciate the Kano fans.”
For Rivers United Coach, Stanley Eguma, they came for the three points but Jigawa deserved a share of the points.
“We targeted three points but one point is not bad. I commend the Jigawa team they did well to get the equaliser, from the second half they came out fighting and we had to work hard to contain them.
“We will work on our team to get to the top of the table. We have good support today because we played good football. We will not take Wikki lightly in our next match in Port Harcourt, we will prepare very well not to lose any point at home.”
Match details:
Jigawa Golden Stars FC;
1 Kenneth Christopher
14 Bilal Yakubu
3 Nura Muhammad
38 Otuke Micheal (Richard Christopher)
10 Saleh S Ibrahim (Mujaheed Ibrahim)
12 Pascal Eke
24 Ali M Kalla
36 Kingsley Innocent
33 Mashood Kasali (Austin Godwin)
15 Ibrahim Umar
2 Munkaila Musa
Substitute
16 Sulaiman Abdullahi
18 Kamal Gambo
7 Mujahed Ibrahim
9 Yusuf Sani
21 Austin Godwin
8 Richard Christopher
5 Olarewaju Rahman
Technical Adviser Rabiu Tata
Rivers United
1 Akande Abiodun
6 Godswill Kazie
15 Bamba Bakary
13 Lookman Binuyo
32 Kunle Odunlami
19 Festus Austin (C)
31 Rafiu Ishaq (Ogbonna Onuoha)
9 Stephen Gopey
25 Malachy Ohawume (Nasiru Auwalu)
21 Cletus Emotan
29 Esor Nelson (Temple Emekayi)
Substitutes
34 Ovunda Darlington
26 Peter Ubakanma
33 Temple Emekayi
34 Ifeanyi Onyeali
10 Ogbonna Onuoha
8 Ossy Martins
4 Nasiru Auwalu
Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma
Man of the match; Substitute Mujaheed Ibrahim was chosen man of the match for being thorn in the flesh of Rivers United defence and assisting the equaliser.
Cautions Rivers United’s Bamba Bakary (68).
Match Statistics:
Shots 7/4
Shots on target 5/2
Corners 4/5
Fouls 7/7
Free kicks 7/8
Offsides 1/0
Saves 1/3
Yellow cards 0/1
Red cards 0/0
Penalties 0/0
Goals 1/1
