If you were hoping for a fortress-like statement to kick off the new campaign, Finidi George’s Rivers United just delivered that.
The Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was rocking on Sunday evening as the Port Harcourt giants completely outclassed their visitors to seal a convincing 2-0 victory.
From the very first whistle, the Pride of Rivers looked determined to assert dominance. The pressure paid off early when Alex Oyowah slid a brilliant pass to release Chijioke Mbaoma on goal.
Though the goalkeeper repelled Mbaoma’s initial effort, debutant Shehu Dabai was on hand to tap home the rebound, marking his debut following his move from Niger Tornadoes in style.
The momentum stayed firmly with the home side. Returning star Alex Oyowah nearly doubled the advantage himself, forcing a sensational double save from Okeimote Odah.
However, the visitors’ resistance crumbled again eight minutes before the break. Wasiu Falolu collected a pass from Ebuka Akubondu at the edge of the box, cleverly danced past two defenders, and guided a precise finish into the bottom left corner.
A cagey second half saw the home side manage their lead effectively. While the visitors tried to claw their way back, the closest either side came to altering the scoreline was an 85th-minute effort from substitute Iyowuna Douglas, following great setup work by fellow debutant Shola Oladunjoye.
A goal-line clearance denied a third, but the job was already done.
This victory extends a flawless record in opening fixtures:
7 Home Openers Played
7 Victories Secured
0 Draws & 0 Defeats
10 Goals Scored & 2 Conceded
5 Clean Sheets Kept
