By Abdul Raheem
Kano Pillars could only score once in a dominant display at home to defeat visiting Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna that were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes to play in a MatchDay 6 fixture of the 2021/2022 NPFL season on Sunday.
The Sai Masu Gida, who have endured torrid outings away this season took control of the th game and should have scored more than the one goal. It was a Mark Daniel’s second half volley from a Yusuf Bala Maigoro pass that earned them much deserved victory at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
The former champions lost their last match 3-0 away to Sunshine but started this match with clear intent of picking the maximum points at home. This became very evident when Mark Daniel hit the cross bar from Skipper Ali Rabiu’s pass in the 10th minute.
Ali would twice threaten the Minna side’s goal from free kicks; the first was headed away by Abiodun Adebayo, while the second agonisingly missed the corner of the goal post by inches as Tornadoes ground out a scoreless first half.
Pillars resumed the pressure in the second half and was rewarded when a free kick from the left was passed around in and around the box before finding Yusuf Maigoro, who laid a clever pass for Mark Daniel to volley beyond the reach of goalkeeper George Michael.
The goal brought out Tornadoes as they hungrily sought for the equaliser but could not go beyond the Pillars defence marshalled by Abdullahi Musa. Tornadoes’ captain, Sunday Akinmoladun had earlier been booked for stamping on the face of Kabiru Sanusi and he got his marching order when he bagged another yellow card this time for high boot against Ali Rabiu.
Speaking after the match, Pillars Chief Coach, Ibrahim Musa expressed delight at the victory, noting that any match against a fellow Northern side is always touch, as they all see Pillars as the king in the North.
“The Enyimba match was easier but I’m happy that we won. We want to take the winning form to Ilorin against Kwara United. It is unlike Pillars to concede three goals in a match and we hope to work on that and start a winning run.”
Tornadoes Chief Coach, Abubakar Bala Mohammed was unhappy that they could not achieve their aim of returning back to Minna with at least a share of the points.
“We dropped points at home and planned to get a result here but it didn’t work out. I’m not disappointed because we played well and gave a good fight but we couldn’t get a goal.”
