Rivers United Deny Insurance N1m In Benin

Rivers United Deny Insurance N1m In Benin

By Admin

Ossy Martins’ 49th minute equaliser denied the hosts, Bendel Insurance N1m in their match-day 10 game against Rivers United, BSNSports.com.ng reports

Edo state Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu on Tuesday promised the Benin Arsenal the sum of N1m for each goal score in their week 10 league tie with Rivers United.

Ugwu Michael's 13th-minute strike put the home team ahead but Ossy equaliser shattered their hope of maximum three points as well as N1m goal prize.

A disallowed goal, five minutes into additional time took the shine off Rivers United's hard fought 1-1 draw against Insurance in Benin on Wednesday.

The highly-entertaining Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash at the Sports Complex of the University of Benin finished in a 1-1 draw.

Technical Manager of the Port Harcourt club, Stanley Eguma made four changes to the squad from the disappointing 0-0 draw against Kwara United with Nafiu Kabuga, Ugochukwu Leonard and Cletus Emotan all given the nod to start against the Benin Arsenal with Gbadebo Samson, Waheed Adebayo, Weli Christian and top scorer, Wasiu Jimoh all dropping out.

Insurance were quicker off the blocks and gained due reward with a deserved opening goal through an unmarked Ugwu Michael who headed home emphatically from inside the penalty area following an expertly delivered cross by Odinaka Ezeh.

Rivers United slowly gained a foothold on the game but would not get back on level terms until after the interval.

Ossy Martins displayed great predatory instincts to stab home a rebound from close range in the 49th minute with the Insurance goalkeeper, David Walbe failing to hold onto Kehinde Adedipe's fiercely struck effort from 20 yards.

Walbe had performed a howler, three minutes before the interval, allowing Emotan's drive to spill out of his hands and through his legs.

The United players insisted the ball had crossed the line but the referee ruled otherwise, despite heated protests from the visiting players and bench.

Insurance stepped on the accelerator shortly after as they looked to avoid dropping two points on home territory and almost retook the lead for the second time in the 70th minute.

Junior Osaghae came face to face with the Rivers United goalkeeper, Drissa Bamba and pulled the trigger with frightening force from point blank range.

The home support erupted in premature celebration at what they felt was a certain goal only for Bamba to produce an extraordinary save, which defied logic, to send the stadium into stunned silence.

Osaghae missed a sitter, moments later, firing over from four yards with a gaping goal at his mercy.

That miss was probably a premonition, for the hosts, that it was to be one of those days, when maximum points would not be amassed, irrespective of the effort put in.

The hosts felt they had won it in the fifth minute of additional time but Imade Osarenkhoe's headed effort was ruled out for a foul on Bamba

Head coach of Insurance FC, Monday Odigie refused to speak to media after the game, ostensibly as a form of protest over the disallowed goal.

However, Deputy Governor of Edo State (sponsors of Insurance FC), Comrade Phillips Shuaibu stating that Insurance FC will pull out of this season's NPFL.

Eguma also shared his sentiments on the game

United's steady start to the season continues as Wednesday's result means the Pride of Rivers have lost just once in seven games (four of them played away from home) this season.

The Port Harcourt club occupies fifth place in group A of the NPFL standings with 10 points from seven games.

Goals: Ugwu Michael 13', Ossy Martins 49'