Usule strikes late to sink Rivers United
Martins Usule headed in a late winner as Katsina United beat Rivers United 2-1 in an exciting Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest decided on Sunday.
Usule carved out space to head home a bobbling ball on the near post to break down a resolute Rivers United side that for long stages, looked full value for a welldeserved point at a rocking Muhammadu Dikko (Karkanda) Stadium, Katsina.
The hosts started on the front foot and could have easily put the game to bed in a frenetic opening 15 minutes.
Obinna Eleje opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a cracking effort that flew in off the post sending the home faithful into fits of euphoria.
The ‘Changi Boys’ almost doubled the lead three minutes later but Eleje somehow missed an open goal from two metres out.
It was an unforgivable miss that the hosts were made to rue as the ‘Pride of Rivers’ got back on level terms seconds later.
Emeka Ogbugh plundered the strike and it was a goal of the very highest quality which flew into the corner despite the best efforts of the Katsina United goalkeeper, Danjuma Paul.
The hosts then stepped on the accelerator in search of the second goal but the Rivers United goalkeeper, Emeka Nwabulu was in inspired form as he foiled efforts from Usule, Eleje and Ashadi in a first half of very high quality.
Joshua Agboola thought he had scored in the 56th minute but Olalekan Gabriel produced a last ditch header to give away a corner.
Five minutes later, Nwabulu produced a contender for save of the season, diving to his right to push away Agboola’s free kick from the edge of the Rivers United box.
It was a save of great quality that had some of the home faithful applauding in appreciation.
Nwabulu, who was having the game of his life, then denied substitute, Eric Dufegha who spun brilliantly on a sixpence before firing a fierce goal bound effort from 20 yards.
The hosts however had the last laugh when Nwabulu’s only moment of display of less than immortal status was ruthlessly punished by Usule.
A relieved head coach of Katsina United, Abdullahi Usman Biffo described the game as the toughest his side have played this season as he poured encomiums on his vanquished opponents.
Rivers United dropped to 13th on the league standings with 20 points from 15 matches while Katsina United climbed to fourth with 23 points from 16 matches.