League

FC Pirate Stadium
Spectators: 8527 (Terracing: 6396, Seating: 1961, VIP seats: 170) When Jacob Nalaya came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the RIVERS UNITED fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Jacob Nalaya couldn't finish the play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Madukaego Madumere in the 7th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Idoko Brown Agunu prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Bamidele Monday Edozien struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Idoko Brown Agunu didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for RIVERS UNITED. Idoko Brown Agunu stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Madukaego Madumere's shot from short distance in the 10th minute. In the 11th minute, Okwuadigbo Godwin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Idoko Brown Agunu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Bamidele Monday Edozien managed to get in a good position for a shot. RIVERS UNITED's supporters rose to their feet, but Bamidele Monday Edozien was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Idoko Brown Agunu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jacob Nalaya received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Idoko Brown Agunu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 16 minutes, Sopuluchukwu Amusan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the FC Pirate and the RIVERS UNITED players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 16th minute, Sopuluchukwu Amusan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 19th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Idoko Brown Agunu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Madukaego Madumere in the 21st minute of play. When Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the RIVERS UNITED fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun couldn't finish the play. Madukaego Madumere received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Idoko Brown Agunu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Okwuadigbo Godwin struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Dike Balogun didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC Pirate. In the 38th minute, Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun made a precise shot to the right of Idoko Brown Agunu. FC Pirate's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. After a defensive mix-up in FC Pirate's zone, Madukaego Madumere stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Idoko Brown Agunu came out of the goal and Madukaego Madumere tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kwemto Akinwunmi's late challenge caught a RIVERS UNITED's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Kwemto Akinwunmi helped the player get up and apologised. Madukaego Madumere might have been able to make a better finish in the 48th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Idoko Brown Agunu. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Madukaego Madumere ran back to his position shaking his head. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Okwuadigbo Godwin to make the kick off. Jacob Nalaya struck a weak shot in the 52nd minute. Idoko Brown Agunu didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for RIVERS UNITED. The attack was good, but when Madukaego Madumere in the 55th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. In the 61st minute, RIVERS UNITED's Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-2. Jacob Nalaya received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Idoko Brown Agunu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, FC Pirate's Madukwe Wahab got a free kick in the 65th minute. Madukaego Madumere in the 66thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Idoko Brown Agunu, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. If Bamidele Monday Edozien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. FC Pirate's Idoko Brown Agunu proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 71st minute of the match, managed to save FC Pirate from getting a goal against them. With a little luck, FC Pirate's Idoko Brown Agunu got control of the ball when Jacob Nalaya tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 78 played minutes FC Pirate got a freekick which was hit by Eberechukwu Adekoje. Madukaego Madumere sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. A collision led to FC Pirate getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Kwemto Akinwunmi hit a great ball. Dike Balogun showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Iyke Elejiko in the 83rd minute of the match. When Ikem Omogo came up free with the goalie in the 91st minute, the RIVERS UNITED fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Ikem Omogo couldn't finish the play. Ajayi Olumuyiwa Aganun sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Bamidele Monday Edozien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The FC Pirate fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. RIVERS UNITED were clearly better and deserved to take the win.