Abia Warriors Held To A Goalless Draw By Rivers United
The much-anticipated classic between Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia and their neighbours, Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt, ended in a barren draw as the visitors held firm in the closing stages of the game to avert a defeat.
The game, which drew a large crowd, lived up to expectations as it was highly tactical, intense, intriguing, and entertaining.
The Warriors’ bench gave a debut start to Godwin Menyaga, and the youngster repaid the confidence reposed in him by putting up a show of brilliance, charisma, and character, thereby warming his way into the hearts of spectators. He was the only change to the squad that played their last league match against Rangers in Awka.
It was a cautious start to the encounter at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, with both sides sizing up each other. Although the visitors enjoyed more of the possession, they failed to trouble the Warriors’ goaltender, Ali Ishaku.
The hosts made two substitutions in the closing stages of the first half with Augustine Njoku coming on for the injured Effimi Nsi, while Emmanuel Nnaji replaced Ochoche Ngbede in a tactical move.
The Warriors came out smoking in the second half and should have been in front within three minutes of the restart. After dispossessing the visitors and a through ball sent to Nnaji in the 18-yard box, he hesitated to pull the trigger and United’s defence recovered to make a desperate block.
The introduction of Chidiebere Nnachi and Shedrack Asiegbu upped the play for Umu Chineke. And the duo would have made a great entrance within seconds as they combined well to carve out a chance that saw Shedrack’s effort saved by United’s Clinton Andy.
The visitors tried to regain control of the game as they did in the first half, but the Warriors gave them no room to dance around as the youngster, Godwin Menyaga, put up a fight to frustrate the experienced Rivers United attackers, and Innocent Godwin was a complete monster as he bossed the midfield for the Warriors.
Nnaji was unlucky not to get on the score sheet in the 81st minute as Rivers United’s defence failed to clear Augustine Njoku’s cross, and the ball fell kindly to him. Unfortunately, as he was already off balance, his tame shot was saved by Clinton Andy.
Despite a spirited effort by the Warriors, the visitors under intense pressure, held on to claim a point.
Up next for Abia Warriors is a trip to Ilorin to keep a date with Kwara United in a week.
Abia Warriors Media
