Sammy Wejinya
Nigeria, May 22, 2014 – Chinonso Okonkwo missed a last minute penalty for Rivers United in a rip-roaring Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest which they lost 0-1 to Lobi Stars on Sunday.
Moses Bunde handled in the box following a shot from Christian Weli but Okonkwo fired wildly from 12 yards to send the visiting supporters into fits of despair. It was a dramatic end to a game that ebbed and flowed with the home side taking the fight to the visitors early on.
The pre-match build up was dominated by news that Lobi’s two main attacking weapons, Kingsley Eduwo and Anthony Okpotu would miss the game as a result of suspension. In the absence of the two accomplished strikers, it was Lobi that started the brighter of the two sides with Ekleche Sunny, Ikeokwu Patrick and David Tyavkase excelling in the final third of the visitors.
Lobi should have taken the lead in the 11th minute as the electrifying Ekleche escaped his markers before laying the ball on a plate for the onrushing Kone Yaya Sumaila. Sumaila picked his spot from seven yards but saw his effort beaten out impressively by the Rivers United goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi.
United captain had their backs against the wall for long stretches in the opening half but captain, Festus Austin and Rotimi ensured the visitors remained with a fighting chance with exemplary performances. Bernard Ovoke, United’s pin up boy attempted to take matters into his own hands and almost scored the opening goal of the contest but saw his half volley fly wide after he did the hard bit of creating space by classily spinning on a six pence in the Lobi penalty area.
Lobi continued to boss proceedings and almost scored on 20 minutes through Ikeokwu only for the striker to be denied by a heroic Austin block. Two minutes later, Rotimi produced yet another big save that left him temporarily injured to deny Akleche who thought he had scored. The onslaught from the home side continued with the post coming to Rotimi’s rescue after Tyavkase powerful shot just about stayed out with the veteran goal keeper left for dead in the 26th minute.
Sumaila came close for the hosts again in the 33rd minute with an excellent free kick which the outstanding Rotimi saved at the second time of asking.It was a game for the ages as the chances continued to come and go with United almost scoring in the 35th minute as Ovoke got on the end of a deflected Okonkwo free kick which fortuitously fell towards his path.
The darting winger rounded the Lobi Stars goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah but his goal bound effort was cleared off the line with the away bench already erupting in celebration. The tempo of the game was unbelievably high and the atmosphere electric as the two sides continued to trade chances in a wonderfully-entertaining half of football. Obomate failed to score from a free kick moments later while Sumaila and Tyakvase wasted chances for the hosts as the half came to a close. The second half failed to match the first in terms of the tempo attained but bettered it for entertainment value.
Just after the hour mark, Lobi was awarded a penalty after Gabriel Olalekan was adjudged to have handled in the box. Akleche is a man with nerves of steel and he ruthlessly sent the hitherto peerless Rotimi the wrong way to send the home fans into raptures.
Two minutes after Akleche had put Lobi in front, the home side appeared to have pressed the self-destruct button as Solomon Kwambe received a second bookable offence after he kicked sprawling Okonkwo. United then proceeded to dominate possession and goal scoring opportunities, eventually winning a penalty at the death.
“We dominated the game and should have wrapped it up in the first stanza. Anxiety of my players saw us fail to take our numerous chances,” assistant coach of Lobi Stars, Evans Ogenyi told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA moments after the game decided at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
The Rivers United technical manager, also spoke to the media after the game.
“The Lobi side started better in the first half, attacking and trying to get goals but my players showed a lot of character, absorbing the pressure and stopping them from scoring. We played better in the second half and should have scored even before they got the penalty but unfortunately it was not to be.
“It was unfortunate that we failed to convert that penalty that came our way in the second half,” he said.
