By Yusuf Olatunji
Remo Stars came from behind to record a rare win against Rivers United in what was their first ever defeat of the Port Harcourt side in 10 matches spanning seven years.
Monday evening 2-1 win was their first since their maiden encounter with Rivers United in 2017.
Before now, Rivers United had won seven times while three other encounters ended drawn.
The win on Monday put Remo Stars a point behind the table-toppers, Enugu Rangers who will be under severe pressure as Remo Stars aim for their first ever Nigerian Premier League title.
Conceding a last minute goal against Rivers United in last season’s Super 6 encounter was one of the factors that cost Remo Stars the title.
Now they put pressure on Rangers International of Enugu as the race gets to the anchor leg.
Yet it was not an easy win for them as their former star, Andy Okpe was the one that put Rivers United ahead through a penalty kick. He famously scored the winning goal for Rivers United when in the first stanza of the league last year.
He appeared to be hunting his former club again when he was called upon to take the penalty kick after his teammate, Deputy Echeta was fouled in the penalty box in the 18th minute.
The smart kick beat Kayode Bankole to the wrong side and extended Okpe’s goal tally against his former employers after the superb goal in the first leg in Port Harcourt which Rivers United won by two nil.
In the second half, Remo Stars were all over the game with more area covered and it was not a surprise when Haruna Hadi broke the deadlock in the 68th minute to give the home fans a lot to celebrate.
With the match inching towards the final minute, Togolese import, Kwame Mawuena headed home from a corner kick by Adams Olamilekan in the 83rd minute to give the home side the maximum points.
No comments:
Post a Comment