By Daily Sports on February 21, 2019

For Bendel Insurance FC it was surely two points dropped as visiting Rivers United came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at the Benin Arsenal’s temporary home ground if the University of Benin Sports Complex in Benin City.

Insurance started the Nigerian Professional League (NPFL) game with zest and intent, pressing and raiding the Rivers’ backline with a flurry of attacking moves.

This paid off in the 14th minute when a beautiful move down the left resulted in a cross which was headed in by youngster striker Michael Ugwu at the far side.

Stunned by the early minute punches thrown at them by Bendel, Rivers United later settled finely in the first half and started to string passes together, probing the Insurance defence with curious intent.

At the late stages of the first stanza, Rivers United began to establish clear dominance of possession to the worry of Insurance coaches and supporters.

A howler from Insurance goalkeeper David Walbe towards the end of the first half ramped up the tension as he allowed a harmless cross to squirm through his legs as he got down to gather, but alert center back Sylvanus Ebiaku saved his blushes with a goal-line clearance.

Rivers started the second half with the same high pressure with which they ended the first, spraying passes beautifully from end to end, working and tiring the Insurance defence in the process. The equaliser deservedly came when attacker Martins tapped in the rebound from Walbe’s unconvincing save off a shot from just outside his 18-yard box.

Insurance were against the ropes at that time. But Rivers opted to hold one point instead of chasing all three and withdrew into their shells after the equaliser.

Insurance then began to press for a second.

In the last minute of added time, the complex came alive as a scrambled effort was turned in for what looked like the winning goal. But the nearside assistant referee raised his flag to indicate that perhaps the Rivers goalkeeper had been fouled in the lead up to the goal.

Hell was almost let loose when the referee brought proceedings to an end. The Insurance fans and technical crew clearly disagreed with the referee’s decision to rule out their goal, but to the credit of the Insurance coach Monday Odigie, he went in his knees begging the fans to not take laws into their hands. It was heartwarming to see, even as the Rivers goalkeeper raced in front of the Insurance fans and embarked upon a provocative buttox dance in front of them.

Bendel Insurance are still flirting perilously with relegation. Their away form has been above average having drawn three of their five away games, but it is their home form which is a source of irritation for their fans as they have drawn two and won 1 of their games in their backyard.

Other NPFL Midweek Results

Akwa Utd 1-0 Ifeanyi Uba

Enyimba 2-0 Katsina Utd

Gombe 0-1 Go Round

Kano Pillars 2-0 Abia Warriors

Kwara Utd 2-0 Niger Tornadoes

Lobi Stars 2-1 Remo Stars

MFM 2-0 Sunshine Stars

Plateau 0-1 Kada Stars

El Kanemi 2-0 Heartland

•Photo shows action from a Bendel Insurance match

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 21, 2019

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