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Match Report: Tornadoes rips through Rivers narrowly in Kaduna

KADUNA (Made In Africa Sport) – Niger Tornadoes defeated Rivers United 1-0 in a closely contested matchday 2 action of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Sunday, 8 October 2023.

The only goal of the game came from a penalty in the early stages of the match. Rivers United pushed for an equalizer, but they were unable to break down the Tornadoes defense.

How it happened 

The match was marked by its physicality, with both teams having to fight for the right to control the game’s tempo. Niger Tornadoes were more effective in their counterattacks, and they came close to scoring on several occasions.

The all-important goal for the host arrived in the 6th minute when Bashir Usman converted from the penalty spot after the Pride of Rivers were penalized for ball handling.

Rivers United tried manfully to haul themselves back into the game and found some real threats with Deputy Echeta, Nyima Nwagua, Samuel Adom, Sadiq Abubakar and Alex Oyowah.

The highpoint of the second half was what looked like a penalty not awarded to the Stanley Eguma tutored side in the 67th minute after Sadiq Abubakar went down to a challenge in the box.

Abiodun Akande made two spectacular saves late in the game to keep hopes alive but Rivers United ran out of time on the day, falling to their first defeat in five meetings to Niger Tornadoes.

Statistics

In-game analysis

Rivers appears to be a side that thrives on intricate passing and combination play between their midfielders and wingers. However, the uneven and dry pitch hindered such a style of play, making it difficult for Rivers to exploit gaps in Tornadoes’ defense.

In response, the coach made halftime substitutions, introducing taller and more physical forwards, but the supply into the box remained suboptimal.

The Ikon Allah boys, who worked tirelessly at the back, maintained cohesion as a unit, and displayed respect for their opponents. Their game plan adapted well to the ground conditions, avoiding wasteful passes at the back, opting for direct attacks, and applying intense pressure to push Rivers back and force mistakes.

They also demonstrated potency in their counterattacks, coming close to scoring during the closing stages of the game, only for the striker to miss the target.

The disparity between the two sides was minimal. Rivers United’s struggle stemmed from a lack of directness and an insufficient volume of clear-cut chance creation for their forwards to convert. In contrast, Niger Tornadoes displayed a better understanding of the terrain and the requirements for victory.

The win means Niger Tornadoes have beaten Rivers United for the first time in four years and first home win against the Pride of Rivers in three league seasons.

What’s next

Rivers United will host Remo Stars at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Thursday, 12 October 2023 in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League matchday one fixture with kick-off at 4pm while Tornadoes will be traveling to Awka City to face Rangers International in matchday three on a date yet to be decided.

Matchday two results

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