Chinonso
Okonkwo missed a last minute penalty for Rivers United in a rip-roaring Nigeria
Professional Football League (NPFL) contest which they lost 0-1 to Lobi Stars
on Sunday.
Moses Bunde
handled in the box following a shot from Christian Weli but Okonkwo fired
wildly from 12 yards to send the visiting supporters into fits of despair.
It was a
dramatic end to a game that ebbed and flowed with the home side taking the
fight to the visitors early on.
The
pre-match build up was dominated by news that Lobi’s two main attacking
weapons, Kingsley Eduwo and Anthony Okpotu would miss the game as a result of
suspension.
In the
absence of the two accomplished strikers, it was Lobi that started the brighter
of the two sides with Ekleche Sunny, Ikeokwu Patrick and David Tyavkase
excelling in the final third of the visitors.
Lobi should
have taken the lead in the 11th minute as the electrifying Ekleche escaped his
markers before laying the ball on a plate for the onrushing Kone Yaya Sumaila.
Sumaila
picked his spot from seven yards but saw his effort beaten out impressively by
the Rivers United goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi.
United
captain had their backs against the wall for long stretches in the opening half
but captain, Festus Austin and Rotimi ensured the visitors remained with a
fighting chance with exemplary performances.
Bernard Ovoke,
United’s pin up boy attempted to take matters into his own hands and almost
scored the opening goal of the contest but saw his half volley fly wide after
he did the hard bit of creating space by classily spinning on a six pence in
the Lobi penalty area.
Lobi
continued to boss proceedings and almost scored on 20 minutes through Ikeokwu
only for the striker to be denied by a heroic Austin block.
Two minutes
later, Rotimi produced yet another big save that left him temporarily injured
to deny Akleche who thought he had scored.
The
onslaught from the home side continued with the post coming to Rotimi’s rescue
after Tyavkase powerful shot just about stayed out with the veteran goal keeper
left for dead in the 26th minute.
Sumaila came
close for the hosts again in the 33rd minute with an excellent free kick which
the outstanding Rotimi saved at the second time of asking.
It was a
game for the ages as the chances continued to come and go with United almost
scoring in the 35th minute as Ovoke got on the end of a deflected Okonkwo free
kick which fortuitously fell towards his path.
The darting
winger rounded the Lobi Stars goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah but his goal bound
effort was cleared off the line with the away bench already erupting in
celebration.
The tempo of
the game was unbelievably high and the atmosphere electric as the two sides
continued to trade chances in a wonderfully-entertaining half of football.
Obomate
failed to score from a free kick moments later while Sumaila and Tyakvase
wasted chances for the hosts as the half came to a close.
The second
half failed to match the first in terms of the tempo attained but bettered it
for entertainment value.
Just after
the hour mark, Lobi was awarded a penalty after Gabriel Olalekan was adjudged
to have handled in the box.
Akleche is a
man with nerves of steel and he ruthlessly sent the hitherto peerless Rotimi
the wrong way to send the home fans into raptures.
Two minutes
after Akleche had put Lobi in front, the home side appeared to have pressed the
self-destruct button as Solomon Kwambe received a second bookable offence after
he kicked out at a sprawling Okonkwo.
United then
proceeded to dominate possession and goal scoring opportunities, eventually
winning a penalty at the death.
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