2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 18: Nasarawa United FC in dramatic stalemate with Rivers United

Posted : 24 December 2024

It was a Matchday 18 clash of the Nigeria Premier Football League to forget in a hurry as the Solid Miners were forced to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw against visiting Rivers United at the Lafia City Stadium on Sunday evening.

Despite taking the lead in the first half, Nasarawa United could not hold on to their advantage, allowing the Pride of Rivers to snatch a vital equalizer from the spot in the second half.

The match got off to a blistering start, with the home side dominating the early exchanges. Their pressure paid off in the 13th minute when John Joshua expertly finished off a well-crafted free-kick by Shina Kumater to send the home fans into raptures.

However, Rivers United refused to back down and gradually began to gain a foothold in the second half. Their persistence was rewarded with a penalty after Garba Mohammed was adjudged to have fouled his opponent inside the box.

Kabir Abdullahi stepped forward to convert the resultant spot kick in the 50th minute to draw the visitors level, leaving the home side and their fans stunned and frustrated.

The hosts felt they had won a penalty in the 53rd minute when winger Garba Mohammed was hacked down inside the box, only for the referee to allow play to continue, much to the frustration of the home side.

As the game approached its climax, the trio of Manga Mohammed, Emeka Onyema, and Shina Kumater all came close to increasing the goal tally for the Solid Miners, only to miss their chances by the whiskers.

Substitute Abubakar Abdullahi also had the opportunity to change the scoreline for the home side before the full-time whistle, but his effort went over the crossbar in the 83rd minute.

Further scoring efforts by both sides in the closing stages of the game could not yield any result as the referee blew the full-time whistle.

The draw leaves Nasarawa United in 17th position on the league table with 19 points, while Coach Finidi George's Rivers United drop to 2nd position with 33 points, having played one game more than Nasarawa United.

The Solid Miners' next match is against Katsina United on December 29th at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

Despite the disappointing result, Nasarawa United's Technical Director, Kabir Dogo, remains optimistic, saying, "We are disappointed with the draw, but we will take the point and move on.

"We created enough chances to win the game today, but sometimes it just doesn't go your way.

"My players gave their all in this game, and you can attest to this fact and many other things that happened in the game today."

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 18: Nasarawa United FC in dramatic stalemate with Rivers United

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