Striker, Obi Samson scored his seventh league goal of the season as Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia moved back to the top half of the Nigeria Premier Football League table following a 2-0 victory over Rivers United of Port Harcourt in a rescheduled game decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Coach Bethel Oji had unleashed the trio of Samson Obi, Sunday Megwo and Paschal Nwabueze in attack, and the plot paid off as it was Obi who netted the opener in the 65th minute before substitute, Chinemerem (Meme ) Okike calmed all the frayed nerves with the consolidator with virtually the last kick of the exciting game.
The first half produced no goals as the visitors ensured the game was a cagey affair.
However, the second half saw the Warriors firing from all cylinders with the attacking trio giving Rivers United’s defence line serious work at the back.
With pressure mounting by the minute, it was only a matter of time before the inevitable could happen.
And so it did in the 65th minute when Paschal Nwabueze dribbled past Rivers United players and released the ball to Sunday Megwo, who gave a through pass to Obi, to round the keeper and score the opener.
Coach Evans Ogenyi quickly made some substitutions to salvage a point for the Pride of Rivers. However, despite their efforts, Abia Warriors defence was rarely troubled.
As the game wore on, the fourth official signalled for five minutes added time, and the Warriors chose the last minute of the additional time to cap a fascinating game.
Another foray from the Warriors saw an interchange of play between Adejoh Ojonugwa and Paschal, who escaped his marker to square to substitute Meme Okike to score the second goal and send the spectators into frenzy.
It was a well deserved victory by the Umuahia warlords, and they will now set their sights on the round of 32 President Federation Cup against Sporting Supreme FC of Abuja in Benin City, Edo State, on the 22nd of May 2024.
